“The legal in-house profession? It has indeed changed immensely!”
Eva Argilés, president of ACC Europe and general counsel of Applus+, explains why today’s corporate lawyers must go “legal and beyond”
by michela cannovale
In a swiftly changing legal landscape, the position of general counsel comes with a distinct array of challenges and requirements. As we live in a time of escalating crises, where climate, economic and social downturns often overlap, organizations more and more need leaders – and legal leaders as well – who can recognize these new realities, understand their place within them, and know what actions to take to help.
“That’s the main reason why an effective general counsel is no longer a pure advisor but a strategic business decision-maker too. An effective general counsel no longer only sticks to the law but to financial and societal values too. No longer is only a lawyer, but an activist too. An activist with the ability to understand and delve into the economic, political, and social aspects that shape the business environment of their organisation”. This is what Eva Argilés, general counsel of Applus+ since October 2013, where she orchestrates legal strategies spanning over 70 jurisdictions, facilitating the multinational’s global operations, and president of the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) in Europe since October 2022, said during this year’s ACC conference in Edinburgh.
The summit, held annually in a different city, has become a regular fixture for members of the international in-house community, as well as for companies and academic institutions from across Europe and around the globe. This year’s event featured over 30 sessions and panels focusing on this main topic: “Legal & beyond”. Iberian Lawyer talked to Eva Argilés to understand what exactly lies outside the confines of the juridical and constitutional sphere.
Why did the ACC go for this topic this year?
“Legal & Beyond” was a natural choice: it truly speaks to the in-house role today, both from a professional and personal perspective. Nowadays, staying ahead as in-house counsel means more than just knowing the law. It means exploring what lies beyond the legal realm. As jurists, we are indeed continuously expanding the scope of our jobs, but this is for a reason: the skills and perspectives we bring to the table are increasingly valuable and valued.
What kind of skills are you talking about?
Independence in our advice, strong ethics, awareness of geopolitics, financial markets, and regulatory trends. We also know what stakeholders expect in terms of sustainability, transparency, and the future of the workplace. We are the ones who deal with artificial intelligence (AI), legal operations, D&I and the wellbeing of the staff.
