2026 State of Corporate Law Department Report

There’s a concerning gap between general counsel (GC) and their bosses — 86% of GCs believe their department contributes significantly to company goals. Only 17% of the C-suite agree, according to research from the Thomson Reuters Institute.

Read the new 2026 State of the Corporate Law Department report to learn how GCs are responding to that gap, the promise of AI transformation, and a challenging global business and legal environment.

Based on interviews with thousands of professionals worldwide, including legal leaders, C-suite executives, and compliance professionals, the report found:

• Nearly half (42%) of C-suite respondents say legal contributes little or not at all to organisational objectives
• Staffing is the top in-house pain point as pressures continue to mount
• Communication and integration into business operations is also a major area of concern
• Successful departments are increasingly choosing a more proactive risk approach
• Up-to-date metrics and the ability to quickly report on department activities to sceptical business leaders are quickly becoming table stakes