Global GCs More Confident About Handling Accelerating Risk Landscape – Survey

Why It Matters

The findings signal that corporate legal functions are strengthening resilience amid a faster‑moving risk landscape, while AI tools become essential for managing workload and emerging threats.

Key Takeaways

• 60% say risk landscape more complex
• 87% report accelerating risk
• GCs feel better prepared for most risk categories
• AI usage up to 39% for risk management
• Dispute volume preparedness declined

Pulse Analysis

The accelerating risk environment is reshaping the role of in‑house legal teams worldwide. The latest General Counsel Report, covering North America, South America, Europe and Asia, reveals that more than half of senior legal leaders perceive heightened complexity and unpredictability in the past year. This perception aligns with broader macro trends—tightening data‑privacy rules, expanding ESG mandates, and the rapid rollout of generative AI—forcing legal departments to juggle compliance, innovation, and operational efficiency simultaneously.

Preparedness, however, appears to be improving across most high‑impact categories. Survey respondents report stronger capabilities in cybersecurity, data‑privacy regulation, ESG compliance, and the governance of generative AI, suggesting that investments in technology, talent, and process redesign are paying off. The only area where confidence waned is the sheer volume of disputes and investigations, indicating that while firms can manage specific risk types, the sheer scale of litigation remains a pressure point. Notably, 39 % of GCs now incorporate AI or generative AI into their risk‑mitigation strategies, a ten‑point jump from the previous year, underscoring a growing reliance on intelligent tools to sift through contracts, monitor regulatory changes, and predict litigation outcomes.

For businesses, the survey underscores two strategic imperatives. First, legal leaders must continue to embed advanced analytics and AI to sustain productivity amid rising workloads and regulatory costs. Second, boards should recognize that a resilient legal function is a competitive advantage, capable of navigating an increasingly volatile risk landscape while supporting innovation. Companies that align legal risk management with broader enterprise risk frameworks will be better positioned to mitigate costs, protect reputation, and capitalize on emerging market opportunities.