To embed, copy and paste the code into your website or blog: Over the past several years, the role of the general counsel (GC) has evolved from in-house legal advisor to strategic partner. Once referred to dismissively as the office of “no,” corporate legal departments are now expected to deliver a competitive advantage by navigating regulations, easing complexity and anticipating future risks. That was before 2020 happened. As companies seek a return to some kind of normal this year, they are looking to their GCs to guide them through a broad range of thorny and unanticipated challenges. The pandemic, economic volatility, emerging technologies and racial justice movements represent a minefield of risk for companies of every kind, and companies expect their GCs to help them find their footing.