The role of in-house counsel is ever-evolving. Chief legal officers today are tasked with providing far more than legal counsel on employment, high-level transactions, and litigation.  They are routinely called upon to provide crisis management, review strategic communications, and lead the company into uncharted waters, both internally in terms of new company initiatives  and externally, often guiding company engagement in local, national, and international issues. From spearheading policy revisions to support a commitment to climate change to identifying and supporting strategic acquisitions (and advising against possibly problematic partnerships) in connection with elevating the company’s profile or highlighting the company’s products/services, there has never been a greater need – and thereby opportunity – for in-house attorneys to expand outside “their legal lane.” We’ve never seen this more than in the past few years as GCs have taken lead roles in responding to COVID-19, and the seismic industry and workforce shifts that have resulted from the pandemic. Strong relationships with outside counsel have always been a pillar for successful in-house operations. Those relationships now must expand and adapt to meet the needs of this next generation of GCs.  At the same time, the intrapreneurial GC can be a vital asset to outside counsel looking for allies in supporting important firm initiatives like championing diverse teams and providing unique secondment, mentorship, and sponsorship opportunities.  This panel will feature top in-house attorneys from a wide-range of industries discussing non-traditional initiatives undertaken in their companies, and how outside counsel played a key role in their success.

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