It is not easy to win a general counsel position. Key criteria must be met, often including a specific industry background. Cultural fit, soft skills and diversity considerations also come into play. And that’s just the start, say Robert Barker and John Gilmore of BarkerGilmore, which builds corporate legal and compliance teams. Let’s take a closer look.
The legal and compliance market is booming. The number of in-house lawyers and law firm partners with aspirations of becoming a general counsel is at an all-time high. Unfortunately, landing the position is a challenge. Every search has specific criteria established by the executive leadership team and board which must be met. Some of the criteria could include specific industry experience or business knowledge, a background in public company securities and governance, as well as expertise in regulatory, compliance, litigation, M&A, employment/labor law, intellectual property, government relations, leadership, career track record, law firm training, law school ranking, and the list goes on, according to Robert Barker, co-founder and managing partner of BarkerGilmore, which specializes in building corporate legal and compliance teams.
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