Why GCs and CLOs?
“General counsel have a helicopter view of the business in a way only shared by the chief executive and chief financial officer.
Not everything is a legal issue, but it could be argued that everything is related to risk. General counsel have an opportunity to help guard against greenwashing and achieve legitimate sustainability.”
Adam Woodhall, CEO and Founder of GCSF
Quoted in the Financial Times.
GCs have become key corporate leaders, and they and their teams are always ‘in the room’ when big decisions are made, particularly when reputation, regulations, new projects, risks and compliance are considered.
This means the role of the General Counsel has moved far beyond their historic narrow focus on contracts and legal issues, now being the go-to advisors on a broad range of issues. With sustainability issues moving to the centre of the business agenda, it is essential for GCs to build their capabilities.
Even before Covid and Ukraine, many organisations were reviewing business practices and wider enterprise risks. Now the resiliency of their supply chains and alignment in relation to climate, and wider Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) impacts, has come into even clearer focus.
The GCs and CLOs that join our Leadership Exchange leverage their key role in the diverse areas where they have influence to support the achievement of legitimate sustainability.
“With their connections, GCs and their teams can play a key role in being a champion for their sustainability colleagues and help push the ESG agenda across the business. You can be their eyes and ears, heart and soul.
The Leadership Exchange supports you in this and helps you to deliver tangible sustainability actions.”
Andrea Harris, Global GC, WPP
Leadership Exchange participant