A Tale of Two Boardrooms: How the GC Role is Evolving on Both Sides of the Atlantic

The general counsel has long since evolved beyond the role of legal gatekeeper. Today, the GC is strategist, risk manager, deal advisor, and increasingly, a leader in their own right. That evolution is being tested more than ever. From the rise of AI governance to accelerating regulatory scrutiny, ESG demands, and geopolitical instability, GCs now sit at the crossroads of business, risk, and reputation. They advise not only on what is legal but on what is ethical, sustainable, and strategically sound. But how that role manifests—and how it’s perceived—varies significantly depending on which side of the Atlantic you’re on. As a U.S.-based search consultant who regularly works with Fortune 500 companies and a London-based counterpart working across the FTSE and broader European market, we’ve spent years observing these differences up close. Here's what we’re seeing in boardrooms from Wall Street to Mayfair and how GC’s paths to power are playing out in different corporate cultures.