Four things to consider before recruiting a General Counsel
1. Define the right level of seniority
“When assessing the seniority of a General Counsel, it’s important to consider how strategic a role legal functions play within the company,” says Vilma Suomi, Executive Search Consultant at Minjon. “If the legal responsibilities are mainly operational, a candidate with strong growth potential may be a very suitable fit. However, if legal is at the core of the company’s strategy - for example, in supporting growth targets or exit plans - I would clearly look toward more experienced General Counsel profiles.”
2. Consider the company’s risk profile
“Look for someone who understands the realities of your business environment and approaches them in the right way,” Vilma explains. “If the business environment requires taking risks, the General Counsel cannot become overly obstructive because of minor issues. On the other hand, in a highly regulated or closely supervised industry, there is far less room for maneuver, and the General Counsel’s focus may need to be more strongly on regulatory compliance.”
3. Consider whether you need a transformational leader
“When it’s time to replace a General Counsel, it’s worth taking a step back to assess the maturity of the legal function,” Vilma notes. “How does legal currently impact the business, and have any bottlenecks or pain points emerged? Rather than simply making a straightforward replacement hire, the company has an opportunity to recruit a General Counsel whose strengths include streamlining ways of working and building new processes - if that is what the organization needs.”
4. Choose the right executive search partner
“Work with an executive search partner who has broad experience with General Counsel profiles,” says Vilma. “A good consultant also understands the nature of the legal function and the specific role in question, helping the company identify what to prioritize in the recruitment process and what kind of leader they should be looking for.”
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“The quality of the candidates was outstanding. I’m extremely satisfied with the entire process.”
Markus Holm
CFO & Board Member
Elcogen
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“Minjon has the ability to identify the aspects of both the role and the client that truly resonate with top talent.”
Markus Kivimäki
Deputy CEO
Sibanye-Stillwater, Keliber Project
“Minjon identified excellent candidates and managed the entire process with clarity and efficiency.”
Taru Uotila
SVP, Legal Affairs, HR and Sustainability
Aspo Oyj
GET IN TOUCH
Satu Lappalainen, CEO & Partner
Do you have any plans to recruit a General Counsel, where you might possibly need assistance? Feel free to reach out to Satu - she will be happy to tell you more about our executive search services.
+358 44 339 8025
satu.lappalainen(a)minjon.fi
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