Risk, Compliance, Data Privacy, and Regulatory Changes Named Top Concerns for Global Chief Legal Officers

New research from the Association of Corporate Counsel, in partnership with FTI Consulting, examines the evolution and impact of in-house legal departments on business operations.

Washington, D.C., Jan. 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Legal department leaders worldwide are taking more strategic ownership across their organizations and expanding their influence outside the legal department, according to the 2025 ACC Chief Legal Officers Survey, released today by the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC), in partnership with FTI Consulting, Inc. (NYSE: FCN). The survey fielded by ACC is now in its 26th year and provides detailed analysis of the evolving

role of the Chief Legal Officer (“CLO”) position and year-over-year trends related to legal departments’ involvement in helping organizations adapt to a demanding business environment.

The report, featuring responses from 772 CLOs globally, highlights an increasing focus among CLOs on operational efficiency, technology adoption, and improving their team’s impact on business objectives. As organizations grapple with data privacy, cybersecurity, and regulatory compliance risks, CLOs are prioritizing talent development and future skills including business acumen, technological fluency, and industry-specific expertise.

Key findings from the survey include:

• A significant majority of CLOs oversee multiple functions outside of legal. Seventy percent manage at least two additional areas such as risk, compliance, privacy, and ethics. Additionally, 58% are heavily involved in mergers and acquisitions and other corporate transactions, and 44% believe advising the CEO and shaping business strategy to be their greatest impacts on their organization.
• Many CLOs report increased volume, cost and complexity of disputes and investigations. Forty-four percent reported an uptick in litigation volume, 42% have seen a rise in internal investigations, and external investigations have increased for 24%. More than one-third said litigation is increasingly complex, while litigation costs have grown for 60%. Internal and external investigation costs have increased for nearly 30% of respondents, respectively.
• Regulatory investigations are a persistent concern among CLOs. More than 70% said their greatest regulatory concern is industry-specific enforcement, followed by labor and employment-related issues (37%) and third-party risk management enforcement (35%). Among larger companies, concerns centered around antitrust (41%) and AI regulatory enforcement (26%). Global regulatory change was also attributed as one of the primary drivers behind the expected increase in the use of outside counsel among 43% of CLOs surveyed. 
• Internal resourcing is a significant challenge. When asked about the biggest barriers facing their legal departments, respondents identified understaffing as the primary challenge, and 30% plan to increase the number of lawyers they hire this year. Among the largest companies surveyed, that number jumped to 50%.
• Technology implementation continues to be a focal point for legal departments. Forty-four percent of CLOs plan to adopt new legal technology to improve efficiency in the next year. This percentage is higher among CLOs in Europe and those in larger companies, with the most frequently cited technology initiatives being contract management (62%), document management (32%), and workflow tools (26%).

"The 2025 ACC Chief Legal Officers Survey offers valuable insights into the challenges CLOs are confronting worldwide," said Veta T. Richardson, ACC President & CEO. "CLOs are key strategic business partners, their responsibilities beyond legal roles are growing, and they are assuming greater leadership across organizations. This is happening amid numerous internal and external challenges, such as a complex regulatory landscape, geopolitical instability, and mounting budget pressures. Through it all, CLOs continue to demonstrate resilience, creativity, and critical thinking to help their organizations successfully navigate an ever-changing business environment."

“Over the past two years, legal departments have become much more sophisticated and targeted in their approach to technology,” said Sophie Ross, Global CEO of FTI Technology. “By understanding the importance of and investing in a combination of technology, expertise and process improvement, CLOs are seizing the opportunity to make an impact in their organizations during a time of immense change and rising risks. This survey’s findings underscore many of the trends we’ve seen among our clients, wherein legal department leaders are taking meaningful action to mitigate digital risks, improve legal department efficiency, and solve challenges stemming from the increasing volume, cost and complexity of investigations.”

The survey analyzed data from 772 CLOs across 20 industries and 48 countries.

The global survey can be found here. Supplemental reports comparing regional-specific data to the global results are available for Europe and Australia. For complimentary press access only to the reports, please contact Dan Weber (d.weber@acc.com) or Ashley Allman (Ashley.allman@fticonsulting.com).  

ACC will host a live webinar to discuss the 2025 ACC CLO Survey results on February 12 at 12 p.m. EST. Please contact Dan Weber to register.