Insights from the Economist Impact General Counsel Summit US
On September 16, 2025 The Economist Impact hosted its annual General Counsel Summit US, bringing together more than 350 attendees from over 250 companies. Across more than 20 sessions, with over 60 speakers including a majority of sitting general counsel, the event offered a rare opportunity for senior legal leaders to step back from day-to-day demands and reflect on the larger forces shaping the corporate legal function. The program, moderated by The Economist Executive Editor and New York Bureau Chief Charlotte Howard, highlighted the publication’s strength in bringing a wide range of perspectives on the issues that matter most to today’s general counsel. Attendees described the sessions as thought-provoking and timely, mixing big-picture economic outlooks with regulatory updates and practical conversations about how the GC role continues to evolve.
Broad Themes
The sessions touched on many of the issues GCs are wrestling with today. These included:
- Economic outlook – Slower growth and unpredictable markets are raising questions about how to plan ahead, and how legal can help the business prepare for different scenarios.
- Regulatory change – Shifts in regulatory posture and enforcement priorities from policymakers mean legal teams have to be more agile than ever.
- Business activity – M&A and capital markets trends were explored with an eye toward how legal can support deals while managing risk in today’s dynamic environment.
- Budgets and hiring – GCs continue to report increasing pressure to manage outside counsel costs, while also making thoughtful choices about where to invest internally. Legal departments are getting creative with technology, process redesign, and selective hiring that focuses more on specialized skills like regulatory expertise and emerging compliance areas.
- Workforce priorities – Beyond headcount, participants reflected on the importance of talent development, mobility, and culture, emphasizing the link between legal strategy and company values.
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence wasn’t just a standalone topic, it surfaced in many other panels, underscoring how important and transformational it has already become for legal departments. While adoption is still uneven, there was broad recognition that AI is beginning to reshape the way legal work gets done. From automating the drafting and analysis of agreements to streamlining knowledge management, legal teams are experimenting with tools that improve efficiency and free up lawyer time for higher-value tasks. At the same time, GCs are moving carefully. Governance, validation, and the balance between speed and responsibility remain top of mind, with leaders weighing how to capture the benefits of AI while managing risk. The sense that emerged from the discussions was not that AI will replace in-house lawyers, but that it will fundamentally change the nature of their work. Over time, these tools are expected to shift legal departments away from manual, repetitive work and toward a greater focus on strategy, oversight, and business partnership.
The Expanding Role of the General Counsel
A consistent theme across sessions was the expanding scope of the general counsel role. Far beyond simply managing legal risk, today’s GCs are expected to provide strategic guidance, assist in shaping corporate culture, and anticipate the long-term implications of geopolitical and technological change. The Summit highlighted how peers are sharing approaches, benchmarking strategies, and learning from one another as they navigate these responsibilities.
A Valuable Forum
For me, the value of the Summit was clear. Having spent my career alongside general counsel in both law firms and corporate settings, I know how challenging and multifaceted the role has become. What stood out wasn’t just the depth of expertise on stage, but the collaborative atmosphere and the chance to hear how peers across industries are approaching similar challenges. The General Counsel Summit was a reminder of why forums like this matter: they provide space to reflect, connect, and step back from day-to-day pressures, leaving GCs better equipped for the growing demands of the role.
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AUTHORS: Scott Cohen
CATEGORIES: Strategy
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PUBLISHED: September 22, 2025
