Consigliere, Juggler and Business Partner - Today's In House Lawyer

Faiz Chapra, Manager Legal, Engro Corporation

“…I don't want a Lawyer to tell me what I cannot do; I hire him to tell me how to do what I want to do.” J.P. Morgan’s thoughts perhaps echo the 21st century business leaders’ expectations of their in-house legal functions. Of course this is not to say that ethical, legal and regulatory concerns need to be overlooked or otherwise side stepped to enable the J.P. Morgan’s of today to crystallize their vision for the businesses they run, but rather for in house lawyers led by competent General Counsel’s to be seen as partners to business, ‘enablers’ rather than the traditional role of ‘naysayers’ or obstacles to business plans and visions.