Corporate Social Responsibility: The Evolution of the General Counsel in Asia

Legal Counsels in Asia today face a myriad of challenges to adapt to an increasingly complex legal and business environment, while assuming multiple managerial and government liaison roles to mitigate risk through transparent and sound governance practices.

Corporate Social Responsibility: The Evolution of the General Counsel in Asia provides insights from over a dozen senior counsels from local and multinational organisations as well as legal practitioners in Asia on their evolving function and the role they play in influencing responsible business practices.

Key takeaways from the paper include: 

• The influence of General Counsels in Asia varies greatly from corporation to corporation and depends largely on the needs of the board and management as well as the perceived role of the in-house legal capability.
• Company culture comes into play to a certain degree, with U.S. and European multinationals placing a greater importance and emphasis on their General Counsel versus family or state-run enterprises.
• Creativity and strategic problem-solving are absolutely critical. More than anything, businesses today need an advisor who can offer solutions.
• General Counsels have to “earn” their place at the Boardroom table. Their value directly correlates to their own experiences and the skills they bring from a business perspective.