As the in-house legal market continues to evolve, compensation, career progression, and role expectations are shifting in ways that carry meaningful implications for General Counsel, legal teams, and hiring leaders.

In this session, John Gilmore, Managing Partner of BarkerGilmore, and Brittney McDonough, Partner of BarkerGilmore, draw on findings from the 2026 In-House Counsel Compensation Report to examine how current market dynamics are shaping legal talent strategy.

The data reveals notable variation in total compensation across roles and organizations, along with significant gaps between average and median outcomes, raising important considerations for benchmarking and internal equity. At the same time, a meaningful portion of in-house counsel reports openness to new opportunities, pointing to continued movement in the talent market and shifting expectations around compensation, role scope, and career advancement.

John and Brittney will explore how these trends are playing out across organizations, with a focus on practical implications for General Counsel responsible for managing and retaining talent. The discussion will also address how hiring teams can more effectively position roles and offers in a competitive and evolving market.

In addition, the session will examine approaches for aligning compensation structures with role expectations, along with key factors shaping how candidates evaluate new opportunities.

Key topics will include:

• Compensation trends across General Counsel, Managing Counsel, and Senior Counsel roles
• The gap between average and median compensation and implications for benchmarking
• Indicators of talent mobility and drivers of movement in the market
• Implications for retention, succession planning, and team design
• Approaches for positioning opportunities to attract top legal talent

Designed for General Counsel, in-house leaders, and executive hiring teams, this session offers practical insight into compensation strategy and talent dynamics in a changing legal landscape.

John Gilmore
Managing Partner — BarkerGilmore

Brittney McDonough
Partner & Chair, Healthcare & Life Sciences Practice — BarkerGilmore