General Counsel Definition and Legal Meaning

On this page, you'll find the legal definition and meaning of General Counsel, written in plain English, along with examples of how it is used.

What is General Counsel?

(n) General Counsel is the Attorney who represents a corporation in all legal process in the court and does all its legal issues connected to the corporation as an employee of the corporation .

History and Meaning of General Counsel

General Counsel has been an essential aspect of corporations for over a century. Initially, it was considered a minor role in which the lawyer deals with compliance issues, but over time it has expanded to become one of the most important positions in a corporation. The General Counsel handles a wide range of legal affairs and is the go-to person for all legal decisions, including those related to litigation, intellectual property, contracts, and regulatory compliance.

Examples of General Counsel

  1. Sarah is the General Counsel for XYZ Corporation, responsible for all legal matters related to the corporation.

  2. The General Counsel of ABC Corporation advised the management team on the legal implications of a contract with a new supplier.

  3. James became the General Counsel of LMN Inc. after serving as a legal advisor for several years.

Legal Terms Similar to General Counsel

  1. Corporate Counsel: A lawyer who provides legal advice to a company, in contrast to external counsel.
  2. In-House Counsel: An attorney who works for a corporation and is typically responsible for all legal matters.
  3. Chief Legal Officer (CLO): The senior-most lawyer in a company who oversees all legal affairs and provides legal advice to other executives.