A General Counsel’s Role and Responsibility to a Corporate Board

The increasing complexity of modern business organizations has led to an ever-expanding role for the general counsel. A general counsel is tasked with both supporting the executive leadership of an organization and advising the organization’s board of directors. A healthy organization’s board will rely on the general counsel to help navigate legal complexities and make informed commercial decisions. In order to perform their role effectively, the general counsel must establish a good working relationship with the organization’s board members, which requires a proactive role within the organization and the board as well as providing the right kind of advice and guidance to board members.

During this session expert faculty will discuss:

• The Board’s role in a corporation (5 minutes)
• The general counsel’s role in a corporation and within a board (15 minutes)
• Advice that a general counsel can provide to a board (10 minutes)
• How to provide guidance to new board members (10 minutes)
• The general counsel’s role in a private vs. public company (10 minutes)
• Key takeaways and practical considerations (10 minutes)

Who Should Attend: In-house counsel and those who are interested in better understanding a general counsel’s role and responsibilities to a corporate board

Program Level: Overview

Prerequisites: None

Advanced Preparation: None 

Faculty:

Laura C. Turano

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind Wharton & Garrison LLP