The General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer has moved from the periphery of the executive committee to its centre. Regulatory complexity, M&A activity, data governance and the increasing legal dimension of strategic decisions have made the CLO one of the most consequential appointments a board makes. The legal leader who operates as a genuine strategic partner to the CEO — who shapes commercial decisions rather than simply reviewing them — creates value that is directly measurable in deal outcomes, regulatory relationships and governance quality.
At JOlivier & Partners, we search for CLOs and General Counsel who have made this transition: from expert advisors to strategic executives who happen to have a legal background.
The most important distinction in CLO search is between the technically excellent lawyer and the commercially fluent legal executive. Both qualities are necessary — but it is the commercial fluency that is harder to find and more consequential to the appointment.
Every mandate is led personally by a principal of the firm. We do not delegate to junior associates.
Ready to discuss a mandate or explore how we can support your organisation?
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