The General Counsel Report 2024 examines the challenges that corporate legal departments encounter due to the evolving digital risk environment. With an increasing focus on data-driven regulations, privacy obligations, disruptive technologies like AI, rapid advancements in technology, and a wide array of emerging data sources, legal departments are confronted with new complexities when it comes to allocating resources and setting priorities.

The report offers valuable insights from global legal department leaders who shared their differing priorities across various corporate legal areas. Exploring these perspectives will provide a deeper understanding of how different organizations are addressing the challenges posed by these rapid changes.

Part three shines a spotlight on the issues confronting legal departments, particularly in the realms of data privacy and environmental, social and governance (ESG) concerns.

Highlights include:

• 80% of legal department leaders rated data privacy as one of their top five risks, while 53% listed ESG as a top five concern.
• The legal department is actively involved in ESG initiatives, with 40% of organizations surveyed having the legal and/or compliance team leading ESG efforts.
• Survey participants' feelings of preparedness for data privacy declined from 2020 to 2024, indicating a decrease in confidence in dealing with data privacy issues.