How do you see the general counsel role evolving in France over the next five-ten years?

Lawmakers and regulators are adopting a growing number of increasingly complex rules, ranging from compliance to legal innovations governing new technologies. This trend is likely to persist in the coming years. General counsel will need to identify weak spots, anticipate forthcoming regulations as well as their impact on the business. More than ever, they are expected to deliver a competitive advantage, add value for stakeholders and shareholders, and future-proof the business. In this sense, general counsel, who are traditionally trusted advisers, are proving to be effective business partners.

It is also worth noting the newly enacted law that recognises the importance of confidentiality for advice and opinions offered by in-house lawyers. This development is expected to enhance the strategic role of general counsel within their companies.

As we enter the next decade, what skills will a corporate legal team need to succeed in the modern in-house industry?

In the short term, legal automation, and in the long-term artificial intelligence, will enable lawyers to make significant productivity gains on repetitive tasks and concentrate on providing bespoke advice based on pre-digested analyses. Legal teams must constantly strive to master these new tools and push law firms to follow suit. The most successful teams will stand out by adapting to tomorrow’s world with greater agility, flexibility, in-depth analysis, networking skills and the ability to connect the dots.

Lawyers, who were once praised for their technical skills – knowing the laws applicable to a given situation – will now also be required to work with a new set of soft skills, including empathy and curiosity. Given the fast-changing environment in which we live, these skills will become fundamental for better collaboration with others.