Fractional General Counsel
Overview
We are supporting an established client in appointing an Interim General Counsel to undertake a strategic review of their legal function. This is a short-term, high-impact consulting assignment focused on evaluating the current structure, effectiveness, and resourcing of the legal department, and providing recommendations aligned to the organisation’s size, growth, and operational complexity.
Key Responsibilities
- Conduct a comprehensive review of the existing legal function, including team structure, workflows, and allocation of responsibilities
- Assess the efficiency and effectiveness of current legal processes and identify areas for improvement
- Evaluate whether the department is appropriately resourced and structured for the organisation’s scale and complexity
- Provide clear, practical recommendations on the optimal future-state structure of the legal function
- Benchmark against best practice for similar organisations
Functional Scope
- The legal team’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Drafting and negotiating client and supplier contracts
- Providing general commercial legal support to the business
- Data protection and compliance oversight
- Anti-Money Laundering (AML) processes and checks
- Managing client escalations, including legal proceedings related to unpaid invoices
- Note: This role does not cover HR-related legal matters.
Candidate Profile
- Proven experience operating at General Counsel or senior legal leadership level
- Strong background in reviewing and optimising legal functions within mid-sized or complex organisations
- Experience across commercial contracting, compliance (including data protection and AML), and dispute management
- Ability to quickly assess, synthesise information, and deliver pragmatic, actionable recommendations
- Strong stakeholder management and communication skills
Deliverables
- Diagnostic assessment of the current legal function
- Identified gaps, risks, and inefficiencies
- Recommended organisational structure and operating model
- Practical, prioritised roadmap for implementation