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Globalization and the Changing Role of General Counsel: Current Trends and Future Scenarios

In: Liquid Legal

Author

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  • Mari Sako

    (Saïd Business School, University of Oxford)

Abstract

Globalization and digital technology have transformed the role of general counsel in the past few decades. This chapter presents a series of studies to explain in what ways the general counsel has transformed the in-house legal function and its relationships with law firms. In response to demands to deliver more legal work for less cost, corporate legal departments have either internalized or externalized legal work. Evidence from Fortune 500 companies reveal that internalizing corporations have more intangible assets (such as brands and intellectual property) to defend, and are more international in their presence. Moreover, companies that externalize legal resources have developed more stable relationships with fewer law firms, each providing legal services in a broader range of practice areas. As corporate clients enhance their international presence, particularly in newer emerging markets, some of them are finding the global mandate of large law firms, which are far less international than other professional service firms in accounting and consulting, less than satisfactory. The chapter concludes by briefly laying out four possible future scenarios in global legal services markets. We identify under what circumstances the corporate legal department is likely to grow and remain powerful in relation to external providers of legal services.

Suggested Citation

  • Mari Sako, 2017. "Globalization and the Changing Role of General Counsel: Current Trends and Future Scenarios," Management for Professionals, in: Kai Jacob & Dierk Schindler & Roger Strathausen (ed.), Liquid Legal, pages 33-46, Springer.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:mgmchp:978-3-319-45868-7_3
    DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-45868-7_3
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