GC community to lose a heavyweight as BT’s Fitz steps down

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GC community to lose a heavyweight as BT’s Fitz steps down

Widely cited as one of the most influential and admired general counsel (GC) since Legal Business began covering the in-house legal market in earnest more than five years ago, BT GC Dan Fitz is stepping down after seven years to be replaced by former Anheuser-Busch InBev legal chief Sabine Chalmers.

A spokesperson confirmed Chalmers would join BT as GC in April next year, while Fitz (pictured), who has been BT GC since 2010, will remain on the executive committee as company secretary. Continue reading “GC community to lose a heavyweight as BT’s Fitz steps down”

Big shoes to fill as Aviva UK Life GC Risam departs after six years

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Big shoes to fill as Aviva UK Life GC Risam departs after six years

Widely cited for her role in making Aviva’s highly-regarded legal team a pacesetter for the in-house profession, heavyweight UK Life general counsel (GC) and company secretary Monica Risam has left the FTSE 100 insurer after six years.

Risam  (pictured), who held positions including GC for Aviva Europe and GC for Aviva Group, has served as GC for Aviva UK Life since 2015 where she was responsible for all aspects of legal risk management and transactional activity across the business and leading a legal and company secretarial team of over 60 across UK and Ireland. Continue reading “Big shoes to fill as Aviva UK Life GC Risam departs after six years”

GC 2.0 – The GC Powerlist Summer Reception

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GC 2.0 – The GC Powerlist Summer Reception

Do you know your cash-burn phase from your TLDNR? Welcome to the buccaneering, hierarchy-lite world of the fast-growth, tech-driven ‘disruptors’, the kind of business that a growing number of lawyers aspire to work in or advise.

Following the launch earlier this year of the 2017 GC Powerlist, which focused on early-stage companies and rising stars at major plcs, we teamed up with DLA Piper to assemble an audience of more than 70 in-house counsel at London’s private members’ club Home House for an informal discussion from the lawyers working at the digital coal-face. The debate covered the launch of the much-touted Disruptive GC group, the challenges of working with impatient entrepreneurs and how lawyers can slot into the culture of a constantly-evolving company. Continue reading “GC 2.0 – The GC Powerlist Summer Reception”

The GC Powerlist looks ahead to the client redefining the profession

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The GC Powerlist looks ahead to the client redefining the profession


The GC Powerlist returns for its fifth annual report after launching back in 2013 and once more the format has evolved. While partially returning to the rising star model we used back in 2014, the 2017 edition has become a two-hander under the unifying title, The Clients of Tomorrow.

On one hand we have, following months of research, identified 55 outstanding individuals working at established companies active in the UK. This group is focused primarily on the in-house counsel fast establishing themselves in the middle ranks of their teams, typically in their 30s or early 40s.

Continue reading “The GC Powerlist looks ahead to the client redefining the profession”

Managing your career as an in-house counsel – the four key steps

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Managing your career as an in-house counsel – the four key steps

1. Have a plan and be proactive

It is important to have a career plan as the only person responsible for managing your career is you. If you cannot grow and develop within your own organisation (and often you can), think about whether you need to make a move. Talk to other in-house lawyers and if you are junior, find a mentor. A good recruiter will also advise you on career planning and what clients are seeking. Be strategic and keep growing.

 

Continue reading “Managing your career as an in-house counsel – the four key steps”

Great expectations – what happened next for our 2014 class of rising stars

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Great expectations – what happened next for our 2014 class of rising stars

The 2014 GC Powerlist focused on the rising stars of the in-house community. Three years on, we look back at the career moves of our line-up

Featured in this year’s GC Powerlist, UniCredit’s global head of capital markets for legal, Alex Ainley, offers some advice to junior lawyers embarking on a career in-house: ‘When the opportunity to work on something arises, however menial it appears, take advantage of that opportunity. Always say yes.’

Continue reading “Great expectations – what happened next for our 2014 class of rising stars”