Secret to a successful General Counsel-CEO relationship

Autor Georgia Morgan-Wynne
August 22, 2024

A strong partnership between the General Counsel (GC) and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is fundamental to the success of any business. This relationship is built on a solid foundation of respect and alignment that begins during the initial recruitment and onboarding of the General Counsel. It continues to evolve through the delivery of a 90-day plan and beyond, involving the executive team and board members. The first month is a critical time to discuss expectations, establish credibility, and start building trust. This enables the General Counsel to demonstrate their acumen not just as a lawyer, but as a strategic business partner and corporate counsel, ensuring they are continually add value and the CEO and the management team are supported as effectively as possible.

Here are five key elements for both General Counsel and CEOs to be aware of that contribute to a successful GC-CEO relationship:

Challenge the CEO (in the right way)

Honesty and integrity are crucial. A General Counsel must be willing to challenge the CEO when necessary. Constructive challenging helps in making well-rounded decisions, ensuring compliance with regulators and avoiding blind spots. The role of the GC is to act as the ethical and moral compass for the business, building trust within the executive team and board of directors while being confident enough to say no when needed. This reinforces the GC’s role as a key player in maintaining corporate governance and ethical standards.

Be solution-focused

A GC should aim to mitigate risks by offering actionable solutions rather than merely pointing out problems. By framing legal advice within the context of business objectives, the GC is seen as an enabler, not a blocker, by the CEO and other decision-makers. This approach ensures that the legal department is aligned with business goals, fostering a high-performing, solution-oriented legal team. In-house counsel who are good listeners and who can translate legal issues into strategic business advice add significant value, aligning with the company’s broader objectives and enhancing the company culture.

Alignment on goals

Both the GC and the CEO should share a clear understanding of the company’s strategic objectives. This alignment ensures that legal strategies support business goals, balancing risk management with growth aspirations. Involving the General Counsel in strategic planning sessions helps integrate legal matters, corporate governance, and ESG initiatives into the strategy from the outset. This ensures that the legal department not only adds value but also plays a critical role in shaping the company’s strategic direction, aligning with stakeholders and shareholders‘ interests.

Trust and transparency

Open communication and mutual respect are key. The GC must be a trusted advisor, and the CEO should create an environment where legal services and insights are valued. Transparency in communicating decisions ensures trust is built within the senior management and with key stakeholders, including board members and shareholders. This trust is crucial for effective corporate governance and compliance with regulatory requirements. A General Counsel who is part of the C-suite is positioned to influence and guide the company’s ethical and legal direction, ensuring that board members and decision makers are informed and aligned.

Proactive collaboration

The CEO should involve the GC early in decision-making processes to identify and address potential legal issues before they escalate. Ensuring that compliance, ESG initiatives, and corporate governance are integrated into the company’s core strategy helps maintain a strong ethical foundation while reducing future risks and unexpected legal matters. This proactive approach enhances the role of the GC as a strategic business partner who contributes to long-term success. Collaboration with outside counsel and external law firms, when necessary, also ensures that the in-house legal team remains focused on delivering high-value legal services to the business.

In summary, a strong GC-CEO partnership not only mitigates risks but also drives sustainable success. By focusing on solution-oriented thinking, goal alignment, trust, transparency, and proactive collaboration, companies can navigate challenges effectively and seize opportunities for growth. Embracing these principles ensures that the in-house lawyers, legal teams, and business strategies are aligned, ultimately creating a resilient, successful, and forward-facing company.

If you are looking to hire a General Counsel, please get in touch with georgiamorgan-wynne@taylorroot.com

Jobs

  • Law firm

NQ Employment Solicitor

The team advises on general employment matters including employment terms and incentives, statutory rights and obligations, unfair dismissals, equality, redundancy and terminations. Their clients include many leading multinational and Irish companies, public sector organisations and senior-level employees. Recently qualified solicitors or trainees qualifying in May with an Employment seat at a reputable firm will be […]
  • Posted Veröffentlicht vor 4 Tagen
  • Law firm

NQ Banking Solicitor – International Firm

The team works with their offices around the world to advise domestic and international clients on a wide range of Irish and cross-border transactional debt finance matters including but not limited to general corporate lending, leveraged/acquisition finance, structured receivables based finance, asset based lending and real estate finance. I have attached a job spec with […]
  • Posted Veröffentlicht vor 2 Wochen

Legal Document Reviewer

About the role A premier, Tier 1 Australian law firm is seeking Document Reviewers to support their Litigation team in Melbourne on a contractual/temp basis. You will be working on large-scale review projects within a team, reviewing documentation for discovery and determining issues regarding relevancy and privilege. The firm is seeking candidates with previous document […]
  • Posted Veröffentlicht vor 2 Wochen
  • Law firm

Senior Corporate Solicitor – International Firm

The team works with their offices around the world to advise international clients in the life sciences, healthcare and technology sectors wide variety of venture capital investments, M&A transactions and PE transactions. A competitive salary as well as a clear run towards partnership will be on offer. Candidates with over 3 year’s PQE in the […]
  • Posted Veröffentlicht vor 2 Wochen
  • Insurance

Reinsurance Legal Counsel

Global reinsurance broker seeking junior to mid-level Legal Counsel to join highly regarded legal team in London. This is a varied role offering the chance to work closely with the business across a range of contentious and non-contentious matters. The Legal Counsel will give strategic and commercial advice in relation to a range of substantive […]
  • Salary Excellent benefits package
  • Posted Veröffentlicht vor 3 Wochen
  • Management consulting

Commercial Legal Counsel

Leading professional services organisation seeks Commercial Contracts lawyer, 5-9 PQE, to join their highly skilled in-house legal team in London. An opportunity to join a supportive and dynamic team, in a varied role supporting all levels of the business across service lines and the full range of internal business functions. It will be to engage […]
  • Salary Excellent benefits package
  • Posted Veröffentlicht vor 3 Wochen

Featured Content

See all news
Women at desk staring out the window
  • Jobwechsel

Why you should think twice before accepting a counter offer

  • Posted Januar 30, 2025
So, you’ve made the decision to resign from your current employer. After weeks or even months of navigating the hiring process, considering your options and discussing with loved ones, you’ve finally accepted an offer and submitted your resignation. Then comes the curveball: your manager, caught off guard or acting out of desperation, presents you with […]
Two professional women communicating over a piece of paper. they are smiling and working collaborating in a casual office environment
  • Karriereentwicklung

Interview preparation for legal, risk and compliance roles

  • Posted Januar 29, 2025
Securing an interview for a legal, risk or compliance role is a significant step in advancing your career. Whether you’re a recent law school graduate, a paralegal, an in-house counsel or an experienced professional in risk or compliance, interviews are your opportunity to demonstrate your skills, experience and suitability for the role. This interview preparation […]
Businesswoman,And,Businessman,Hr,Manager,Interviewing,Woman.,Candidate,Female,Sitting
  • Karriereberatung

How to resign: steps, tips and template

  • Posted Januar 21, 2025
Resigning from a job can be a delicate process, but approaching it with professionalism and careful planning can ensure a smooth transition. Whether you’re navigating tricky situations or simply looking for guidance on writing a resignation letter, this step-by-step guide is here to help. We’ve broken down the key steps to take when resigning, as […]