The Steep Price of Fighting off Microsoft

On Monday, Cal Law told you about the clever tactics used by Yahoo’s lawyers from Skadden that ended up scaring away big, bad Microsoft.

Well, that kind of advice costs money (even though Yahoo’s a pitiful company, it doesn’t mean that Skadden’s going to take the case pro bono).

Yahoo reported in its 10-Q filed Thursday that it spent $14 million for outside advisors during the Microsoft’s hostile bid.  Of course, that includes financial advisors, media relations folk, etc., not just the dozens of lawyers used to give corporate advice and fight the shareholder suits. But still, $14 million for just three months of sticking it to Microsoft dark lord Steve Ballmer…come to think of it, Legal Pad can’t think of a better way to spend the money.

—  Zusha Elinson