In today’s economic times, CEO’s of emerging and mid-sized companies can ill-afford to incur unanticipated risks or see a badly structured transaction or contract erode hard-earned company profits.  That is one of the many reasons that a CEO’s team should include an experienced General Counsel.  The mission of the General Counsel is to facilitate the achievement of the company’s business goals and profitability by being a proactive, valued member of the management team. 

A General Counsel tends to be far more knowledgeable about your industry, business operations, strategy and new product opportunities than outside law firm attorneys who are not accustomed to being onsite or serve as hands on members of the business unit.  As a result, a General Counsel is keenly attuned to the full range of legal and business issues embedded in the company’s business, understands the business priorities, and can add critical value by proactively translating legal risk into business reality.  As an inside legal expert, a General Counsel has the ability to devise action plans, engage in timely and decisive risk prevention strategies as well as to cost-effectively and creatively find solutions to legal problems.

A General Counsel will emphasize the importance of developing a working environment where he/she is integrated with the client and is a member of the management team.  When business people perceive that in-house lawyers can provide creative legal solutions with a business perspective, those lawyers are drawn more deeply into business teams as high value-added contributors as well as trusted advisors.  A savvy CEO is one who recognizes the business advantages and risk reduction that a General Counsel can bring, and ensures that his or her executive management team always includes this valuable team member.