The role of General Counsel has undergone significant transformation over the past decades, evolving far beyond its original legal advisory remit. No longer confined to risk mitigation and compliance, today’s GCs are increasingly expected to serve as strategic partners to the business, engaging with executive leadership, shaping corporate governance, and helping to navigate complex global environments. This shift reflects broader changes in the legal profession, organisational structures, and societal expectations of corporate responsibility.

As the scope of responsibility widens, so too does the emphasis on interpersonal and leadership capabilities. Skills such as clear communication, cross-functional collaboration, ethical judgment, and emotional intelligence are playing a growing role in defining success. These so-called “soft skills” are increasingly seen not as supplementary but as core competencies in managing modern legal departments and influencing broader organisational outcomes. This topic invites consideration of how the profession is changing, what capabilities are being prioritised, and how in-house counsel are adapting to new forms of value creation within their organisations.

For that purpose, ECLA is delighted to host an interactive workshop to highlight these evolving changes and to establish how general counsel can and need to further evolve. Ultimately, the central goal of the profession remains – to provide world-class legal advice in a timely and proactive manner – and by sharing best practices, we can further establish, how this can be accomplished in 2025.