A general counsel acts as a strategist to support a client’s long-term legal and financial goals. They provide legal advice and authority on complex matters such as tax and retirement planning, estate and trust administration, business succession, acquisitions, mergers, and real estate transactions.

A general counsel is successful if their legal strategies are helping clients make progress on their goals. Constant monitoring of investment portfolios, estate plans, tax planning execution, and business or real-estate deals will let you know whether this is the case.

Additionally, you can evaluate the general counsel on their consistency in identifying and avoiding risks, their willingness to research and implement new and helpful strategies, and the degree to which they are compliant with regulatory laws.

General counsel should have extensive experience in managing complex legal matters with high-net-worth individuals and families. They should also be well-versed in maintaining confidentiality in those matters. 

It’s beneficial if the candidate has experience managing a team as well. This is because the GC will be working with many others to achieve the client’s long-term goals.

A legal advisor works more in daily operations, drafting paperwork and devising solutions to immediate issues. The GC’s job has a more long-term outlook. They provide strategies for tax and estate planning, real estate, business, and other areas to help high-net-worth clients achieve personal and financial goals.

General counsel jobs have the power to influence the direction of an individual or family’s legacy for generations. A recruiting firm will work closely with clients to ensure candidates align with their values and goals and have the broad knowledge necessary to provide them with robust strategies for lasting success.