How in-house legal teams thrive through purposeful integration

April 2025

Abstract

For in-house legal teams to thrive, they must be more than a support function - they must be embedded within the organisation’s fabric, with a clear sense of purpose and strategic direction. As teams mature, they evolve from reactive problem-solvers into proactive, high-impact, strategic business partners. It’s a journey that requires not just legal expertise but also commercial understanding, leadership, operational efficiency, and strong internal relationships.

For decades, the General Counsel (GC) occupied the periphery of corporate life: a risk-averse technician of contracts and compliance. Those days are gone. In an age of regulatory scrutiny, geopolitical...Read more

Jeffery Tan

Group General Counsel & Chief Sustainability Officer , Jardine Cycle & Carriage Limited, Singapore

Herding Cats – Engaging External Counsel

In this article I explore the challenges and opportunities faced by in-house lawyers in effectively engaging and working with their private practice counterparts. Managing professionals working together in a law...Read more

Clive Davies

Legal Business Consultant, Clive Davies Consulting, UK

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Mental health in the legal workplace has become a critical issue in recent years, with increasing awareness of its impact on productivity, employee wellbeing and organisational resilience. As workplaces evolve...Read more

Jeffery Tan

Group General Counsel & Chief Sustainability Officer , Jardine Cycle & Carriage Limited, Singapore

How can lawyers and clients best work together?

We often hear about clients and lawyers frustrated with each other. Certainly, both sides would have wished to avoid the disappointment. However, do we know how to forge a healthy...Read more