General Counsel Report Finds Legal Leaders Facing Increased Complexity, Unpredictability, Regulatory Activity and Costs

Core Insights - The General Counsel Report reveals that legal departments are facing increased work volume due to over 20 identified factors, with 60% of legal leaders reporting more complicated risk, demand, and operations [1][5] - Generative AI has become widely adopted, with 87% of chief legal officers utilizing it for legal functions, although it is not viewed as a top risk [4][5] Group 1: Legal Department Challenges - 97% of general counsel reported increases in work volume across various categories, with new regulations and laws being the primary driver [5] - 39% of respondents are incorporating artificial intelligence and generative AI into their strategies to manage increased risk and demand, marking a 10% rise from the previous year [5] - Regulatory activity and data privacy remain significant risks, with 30% of respondents experiencing heightened regulatory activity this year [5] Group 2: Insights from Leadership - General counsel are balancing the demands of risk mitigation with the need for innovation, demonstrating resourcefulness and composure [3] - Leaders' confidence in their readiness to handle top risks has improved, with 77% being proactive about information governance [5] - The report includes insights from technology leaders, highlighting the interplay between legal departments and their counterparts in technology and digital transformation [4][6] Group 3: Methodology and Demographics - The report is based on qualitative interviews with 30 general counsel and a quantitative survey of 224 general counsel from organizations with over $100 million in annual revenue [6] - The demographic breakdown shows that 63% of interviewees have global responsibilities, and 59% work in organizations with annual revenues exceeding $500 million [6]