About

Marcus Clayton is valued by those he works with for his ‘clear vision’ and cohesive management style. As general counsel for one of Australia’s largest home-grown brands, he has supported Adelaide Brighton through a transformative decade. Facilitating steady growth during periods of economic downturn and defending multiple takeover bids, his position has grown with the business. He established the company’s legal function from scratch upon his arrival in 2003, engineering comprehensive structures and specialisms within the team. It has been a deliberate strategy to keep the function ‘lean’, he explains, with a large share of the work routinely outsourced to external counsel. ‘Outside counsel should ensure they have a deep understanding of our organisation’s objectives and circumstances’, he says, on the firms he instructs. ‘They should project manage their work towards agreed substantive and cost outcomes. Do what it takes to avoid surprises’.