Brian Parsons has handled some big litigation assignments since joining the law department of Macy’s Inc. in 2010, including appellate oral arguments and a deposition of a class representative in a nationwide class action.

It’s the kind of work often done by seasoned law firm partners, Parsons acknowledges. But, then again, the St. Louis-based in-house litigation team at Macy’s pretty much is “a boutique law firm that services only one client,” Parsons says.