Legislation and case law following the relatively recent corporate scandals have increased scrutiny on the ethics and integrity of individuals, and the culture they create, at the highest levels within the corporate structure. The corporate General Counsel (GC) is a key member of that group. This enhanced attention increases the already substantial tensions facing the GC, who must navigate the demands and interests of various corporate stakeholders-including the board of directors, officers (particularly the CEO), stockholders, and employees-while also serving the best interests of the client, which is-and should only be-the corporation itself.
In light of these heightened expectations on ethics, integrity, and other liability concerns, Indispensable Counsel: The Chief Legal Officer in the New Reality examines the key role of the independent, yet business-oriented, chief legal officer. Indispensable Counsel provides readers with the foundations of corporate representation followed by practical guidelines on how the multiple roles of GC are, or should be, resolved, with best practices as the goal. Former Supreme Court Justice of Delaware E. Norman Veasey and coauthor Christine T. Di Guglielmo bring their stature and wealth of experience in the field to bear in this must-have resource for anyone interested in the role of corporate counsel.
Industry Reviews
"With Indispensable Counsel: The Chief Legal Officer in the New Reality, E. Norman Veasey and Christine T. Di Guglielmo have written a field manual to aid CLOs with their new tasks. More important, the authors have illuminated how Congress, primarily through Sarbanes-Oxley, has inserted the long arm of federal law into executive suites and boardrooms to influence private-sector decision making, using the CLO as cat's paw."
--George Mellon, The Wall Street Journal
"Indispensable Counsel fills a significant void for today's general counsel and those who want to understand corporate legal practice today. It portrays the full range of issues that a general counsel deals with. Judge Veasey and Christine Di Guglielmo have tremendous stature within the legal community and they have used their first-hand experience to create a thoughtful and practical compass for the inside counsel, who places such a pivotal role with
management and the board in today's corporation."
--Louise Parent, Executive Vice President & General Counsel
American Express Company
"Veasey and Di Guglielmo bring together their vast knowledge and wealth of experience to create a masterful resource for corporate law practitioners. Indispensable Counsel is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the responsibilities of corporate counsel in this increasingly dynamic and competitive global marketplace."
--Thomas L. Sager, Senior Vice President & General Counsel
DuPont Company