Challenges facing GCs – reflections from the GC & Compliance Forum

5th May 2022

Following our recent attendance at AH Media’s GC & Compliance Forum, we’ve had time to reflect on what we heard directly from the GCs we spoke to about their current challenges. For many, that’s workload, for others the ever-expanding GC role. For many, it’s both.

We’d love to hear from more GCs about whether this resonates and we welcome any tips you are happy to share on how you manage your full and varied workloads.

Accelerated pace of change

Many told us about projects to devise and put in place compliance regimes with supply chain/ vendors. Or about identifying where to use ‘legal tech’. Or about getting to grips with the impact of sanctions regimes. This is consistent with conversations we’ve had with our clients over the past couple of years.

These are all interesting – and big – issues in their own right. What struck us, though, was that GCs are now dealing with ALL these issues. This represents an evolution in the GC role. For a long time, the Company Secretarial role formed part of the GC role; even as the activity and reporting requirements of the Company Secretary grew with the changing structure of the business they represented. Now, though, many see their GC role expanding into areas where in-depth knowledge of regulatory regimes and government policy is needed and GCs are becoming designated as compliance officers and/or ESG implementation executives.

Governance risk, ethics and reputation management have always been key considerations. But these are no longer issues for consideration; they are designated responsibilities.

Regulatory and policy changes are driving a need for specialist expertise

Organisations look for in-house lawyers with “specialist” experience from their industry. Infrastructure companies, for example, have typically targeted energy, infrastructure and construction lawyers.

Technology businesses target intellectual property, data and commercial lawyers. When looking for roles in-house, identifying where your particular skills are needed (and valued) is often the first part of the job search.

Yet having a comprehensive knowledge of complex regulatory compliance regimes is not the sole domain of the in-house lawyer. Compliance understanding and awareness must be embedded from the Board down.

As an example, the administrative and costs burden of data protection compliance has grown over the years. Most in-house lawyers have been front and centre of compliance delivery. You’ve talked your executive teams through the requirements. You’ve explained why it’s essential they champion GDPR compliance, implementing suitable policies and contractual arrangements. Similarly, many will have been involved in implementing the requirements set by the Modern Slavery Act throughout your supply chain. You’ll have delivered training on it and engaged with a myriad of stakeholders. As your businesses find new channels to market, understanding the scope of the payment services directive and how it might need your business to acquire authorisations or permissions is something that will be new to many of you.

Your businesses are of course looking to exploit disruptive technologies, new channels to market and non-traditional supply chain structures. This means that the regulatory landscape that they – you – have to navigate constantly changes. This increases the burden on the in-house lawyer to field questions that are “out of the comfort zone”.

You don’t have the private practice luxury of being able to draw upon the expertise of different colleagues sitting in specialist regulatory, employment or tech teams. It’s understandable, therefore, why this pace of change can be a significant challenge for the in-house lawyer.

So, what should be in your “GC tool kit” to keep ahead of the curve?

Regular internal gap analysis exercises/audits. What are the key areas of regulatory risk that the business will face over the next 12 months? Create a risk review register and identify the key issues within each field. Being able to “issue spot” is the biggest expectation of the successful in-house GC. It facilitates decisions on the prioritisation of further work.

Know-how. Make the most of the know-how tools provided by legal subscription services, regulatory authorities and private practice sources. Make sure you receive regular horizon- scanning updates. They might not give you the full in-depth analysis but they will aid “issue spotting”.

Outsourcing. Have the right mix of options when it comes to outsourcing support on specialist regulatory requirements. Mix up your panels (whether formal or informal). Ask providers to be flexible in the way they offer support (e.g. retainers on specific subjects or monthly “surgeries” during the course of long term projects). Identify the support that is right for you and demand creativity from your providers in the way they work with you.

The focus of the Board

When we asked about the focus for executive teams, many came back with the same response. “Risk and ESG”. ESG is a great example of the changing policy landscape and GCs evolving role within it. Thinking about ESG when making strategic decisions (and in day to day trading activity) is something all businesses and their stakeholders are grappling with – and, let’s face it, struggling with articulating what you need to make “ESG compliant decisions”.

This does raise a question. Why is ESG’s governance and adoption being given to the lawyers? Probably because in many businesses there is no natural home for it and it’s underpinned by the law in many areas. Employment, health and safety, planning, energy and real estate, for example, are all factors.

Is anyone getting this right? We see these tools making a difference:

Supply chain partner due diligence. Ensure tenders require supply chain partners to document their own ESG credentials and providing weighting to this in the decision making process. Consider expanding “continuous improvement” clauses in contracts into more comprehensive obligations. Make it a requirement for suppliers to show their commitment to pre-defined ESG goals (or promises made in tenders).

Governance meetings. Get feedback from function leaders and then set ESG goals as part of an internal governance programme. Chair quarterly meetings to assess what decisions/actions have been taken to deliver the goals. Document steps taken and allocate responsibility for delivering change.

Your increased role: a challenge but also, an opportunity

We often hear in-house lawyers complain that their role and remit makes it difficult to have a voice. That they want to be seen as an enabler, not a blocker. This is particularly so outside of businesses operating in heavily regulated environments, or large businesses with sophisticated structures. We heard similar messages at the Forum.

However, as the role expands – as risk management moves front and centre of the Board agenda – this is changing. In-house teams now have the opportunity to demonstrate their skill set as effective decision makers. People who can support the business in strategic ventures and add value to the bottom line.

So, yes, the role is changing. The burden is becoming bigger. But with the right toolkit and support, there are exciting opportunities for the new generation of GCs and their in-house legal teams.

Does this resonate with you? We’d love to hear your views.

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