General Counsel
The chief legal officer of a corporation or other business entity, responsible for managing the entity's legal affairs and serving as the senior legal advisor to the board and management.
The general counsel (GC) is the chief legal officer of a corporation or other business entity. The role includes overseeing internal legal staff, retaining and managing outside counsel, serving as the senior legal advisor to the board of directors and the executive team, managing litigation and regulatory exposure, supervising commercial transactions, and ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
In some companies the general counsel also serves as corporate secretary, responsible for board minutes and corporate records. In private companies and growth-stage businesses, the general counsel may operate as a one-person legal department or may build and manage a team.
Fractional general counsel
A "fractional GC" or "outside general counsel" is an arrangement in which an attorney provides general counsel services to a company on a part-time or recurring basis without becoming a full-time employee. It is often used by businesses that need regular legal oversight but not a full-time in-house lawyer.