Hiring a General Counsel is one of the most important leadership decisions a CEO can make.
Yet many companies focus heavily on academic results and previous law firm while overlooking the qualities that often determine success in the role.
The best General Counsels are more than lawyers. They are business leaders.
Commercial Judgement
A strong General Counsel understands how to balance legal risk with commercial objectives.
Rather than simply identifying problems, they help businesses make informed decisions and move forward with confidence.
Influence
General Counsels work closely with CEOs, boards, investors, and leadership teams.
The ability to influence stakeholders, communicate clearly, and build trust is often just as important as legal knowledge.
Business Understanding
The most effective legal leaders understand how the business makes money, where the risks sit, and what is required to achieve its goals.
They provide advice that is commercially relevant, not just legally correct.
Leadership
Many General Counsels are responsible for building teams, managing external counsel, and supporting senior decision-making across the organisation.
Leadership capability is often what separates a good lawyer from a great General Counsel.
An Operational Mindset
The role of the General Counsel is evolving.
Today's legal leaders are increasingly expected to improve how legal services are delivered across the organisation. This means creating efficient processes, reducing bottlenecks, and making effective use of technology.
Many leading legal teams are already using AI to assist with tasks such as contract review, legal research, document summaries, and knowledge management. While technology is not ready to replace legal judgement, it can help legal teams operate more efficiently and focus on higher-value work.
For CEOs, this means looking beyond legal expertise alone. A strong General Counsel should be able to identify opportunities to streamline the legal function, improve service levels, and help the business move faster without increasing risk.
Looking Beyond the CV
When hiring a General Counsel, legal expertise should be a given.
The most effective General Counsels combine strong legal knowledge with commercial judgement, influence, leadership, business acumen, and the ability to build a modern, efficient legal function. Those are the qualities that turn a senior lawyer into a trusted adviser to the CEO and leadership team.
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