As a trusted advisor and leading source of insights on senior legal and compliance leadership, BarkerGilmore maintains one of the most comprehensive databases of top legal executives in the United States. This ongoing research reveals a significant shift in how organizations define their most senior legal leader. The Chief Legal Officer (CLO) title is rapidly gaining ground over the traditional General Counsel (GC) designation.
The Evolution of the Top Legal Title
For decades, “General Counsel” was the default title for the most senior legal executive. Today, the data show a very different picture. About one in six top legal leaders now hold the CLO title, a dramatic increase from virtually non-existent levels in the 1990s. Between 2011–2017 and 2018–2024, the number of CLO roles grew nearly 200%, compared with an 84% increase in GC roles during the same period. This surge reflects a conscious rebranding of the role to match the scope and stature of other C-suite leaders.
Although some organizations still use “General Counsel” and “Chief Legal Officer” interchangeably, the steady rise of the CLO title underscores a broader shift in expectations. The designation is no longer cosmetic: it signals a legal leader’s integration into enterprise leadership, strategy, and risk management at the highest level.
From Legal Advisor to Enterprise Leader
The CLO title places the head of legal firmly within the executive leadership team, alongside the CEO, CFO, and CHRO. This positioning conveys prestige and enterprise-wide responsibility. The legal function is increasingly viewed as a driver of business performance, reputation, and innovation rather than a back-office advisory unit.
Modern CLOs oversee a far wider scope than their predecessors. Beyond core legal responsibilities, these professionals are often charged with compliance, risk management, ESG initiatives, cybersecurity, and public policy, all of which shape corporate strategy and long-term value. By elevating the top legal role to the C-suite, companies signal to boards, investors, and employees that legal leadership is integral to safeguarding and advancing the enterprise.
Data-Driven Evidence of a Shift
BarkerGilmore’s longitudinal research shows that the rise of the CLO is not a passing trend but a structural change in corporate governance. The share of CLOs among all top legal leaders rose from roughly 14% in 2011–2017 to 20% in 2018–2024, and we expect this upward trajectory to continue.
This growth mirrors the evolution of other corporate functions that have embraced C-suite titles to emphasize strategic influence: finance shifting from controller to CFO, or HR leaders taking on the CHRO designation. The CLO’s expanded mandate similarly reflects the legal department’s integration with risk, compliance, and business planning across the enterprise.
Implications for Corporate Legal Departments
The rise of the CLO title is reshaping both the position’s name and the structure, influence, and opportunities within corporate legal departments.
- Greater Visibility and Reporting Lines: CLOs increasingly report directly to CEOs and boards, reinforcing the role as architects of corporate strategy rather than strictly legal advisors.
- Enhanced Compensation and Resources: As the span of duties broadens, CLOs are commanding greater compensation and departmental resources, reflecting expanded value to the organization.
- Clearer Career Pathways: The CLO designation creates a tangible C-suite goal for aspiring senior legal talent. Emerging leaders can see a path from Managing Counsel to enterprise-level executive, shaping company-wide initiatives and leading cross-functional teams.
- Influence Beyond Legal: CLOs are being tapped for leadership on ESG, risk oversight, ethics programs, and crisis management, where legal expertise provides a competitive edge.
Why Organizations Are Making the Change
Organizations embrace the CLO title for three core reasons:
- Strategic Positioning: The title signals parity with other C-suite leaders and elevates the perception of the legal function internally and externally.
- Broader Mandate: As the legal leader’s responsibilities extend into compliance, risk, and governance, the CLO title reflects a broader purview than traditional GC roles.
- Talent Attraction and Retention: Offering a C-suite title helps recruit and retain high-caliber legal executives, aligning with peers’ status and expectations.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Legal Leadership
If current trends hold, the CLO title could soon rival or surpass GC as the default designation at large and mid-size companies. While the responsibilities historically associated with the GC and CLO roles will continue to blend, the C-suite framing reinforces the legal function’s status as an enterprise leader and strategic partner.
We also anticipate continued convergence of legal, compliance, and risk management functions under the CLO umbrella. This integration will accelerate the legal department’s influence on corporate culture, ethics, and innovation. Boards and investors increasingly look to CLOs as guardians of organizational integrity and architects of long-term value creation.
Conclusion
The CLO title has evolved from a niche designation to representing roughly 16% of top legal leaders today, reflecting a fundamental realignment in how companies view and brand the most senior legal executives.
As part of the broader evolution of corporate leadership roles, the rise of the CLO signals the legal department’s transition from advisor to strategic partner and a true member of the C-suite. BarkerGilmore partners with boards, CEOs, and senior legal leaders to navigate these changes, providing executive search, advisory, and leadership development services tailored to the modern legal function.
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