Resourcing an In-House Legal Department: What’s Enough?

Nicolas Vielliard, Senior Counsel , Shawcor

In this paper, I discuss the requirements of an in-house legal department and the role of in-house counsel. Depending on the size of the organisation (all-encompassing term to include private or public companies, institutions, international organisations and bodies, NGOs and local authorities) budget and vision of its CEO, the in-house counsel’s role, level of influence and the structure of the legal department may vary dramatically. As in-house legal departments become either vital or a necessary evil, I explore their significance, by considering what should be the minimum set-up requirements, who should be part of it and when is the appropriate time for such set-up.