What does a General Counsel do?

A General Counsel is the chief legal officer of a company or organization. They are responsible for overseeing all legal matters affecting the organization and providing advice and guidance to senior management and board of directors on a wide range of legal and business issues.

What are the responsibilities of a General Counsel?

• Providing legal advice and guidance to senior management and board of directors on a wide range of legal and business issues.
• Participating in strategic planning and decision-making processes.
• Hiring and managing the legal team, ensuring they have the resources and support needed to meet the organization's legal needs.
• Overseeing all legal matters affecting the organization, including compliance with laws and regulations.
• Negotiating and drafting contracts and other legal agreements.
• Protecting the organization's intellectual property, including patents, trademarks, and copyrights.
• Managing litigation and disputes, including representing the organization in court or before regulatory agencies.
• Providing training and guidance to other members of the organization on legal and ethical matters.
• Building and maintaining relationships with external legal counsel, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders.
• Ensuring the organization's policies and procedures are compliant with relevant laws and regulations, and effectively managing legal risks.

What are key challenges faced by a General Counsel?

• Balancing legal risk and business needs: The General Counsel must navigate the complex relationship between legal risk and business objectives, and make decisions that balance the two, without being seen as the department of 'No'.
• Hiring, managing and motivating the team: Attracting talent is a core priority for the typical GCs, and it is their responsibily to ensure they each team has the resources and support they need to meet the organization's legal needs.
• Balancing cost-effectiveness and quality: Ensuring that the legal services provided by internal and external resources are of high quality while also being cost-effective, which can be challenging in a highly competitive market.
• Juggling conflicting priorities: Balancing the legal needs of multiple departments and stakeholders within the organization, which can result in conflicting priorities.
• Ensuring compliance: The General Counsel is responsible for the organization's overall compliance with laws and regulations, which can be particulary challenging in more nacent and heavily regulated industries.