En el acelerado entorno empresarial actual, no sorprende que los equipos jurídicos corporativos estén asumiendo nuevas responsabilidades que van más allá de las tareas legales tradicionales. Los directores jurídicos (CLO), en particular, están a la vanguardia de esta evolución. A medida que las organizaciones se transforman, el rol de los líderes jurídicos también evoluciona, redefiniendo la forma en que asignan su tiempo y redefinen sus prioridades. Una encuesta reciente de Deloitte, en la que participaron más de 450 ejecutivos jurídicos de Estados Unidos, Canadá, Australia y Europa, arroja luz sobre los cambios clave que impactarán a los CLO en 2024.
Ampliando horizontes para los CLO
Los CLO dedican menos tiempo a asuntos jurídicos convencionales y se centran más en iniciativas más amplias de transformación organizacional. Si bien esta transición ofrece oportunidades interesantes para influir en la empresa a nivel estratégico, también presenta desafíos significativos para los CLO acostumbrados a la práctica privada o a funciones jurídicas internas tradicionales. Navegar por este cambio requiere flexibilidad, un fuerte sentido de curiosidad y la capacidad de forjar alianzas multifuncionales mientras se fomenta el talento en toda la organización.
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Legal Strategy: A Piece of the Larger Puzzle
Providing legal and regulatory guidance remains a core function for CLOs, but their influence now extends to spearheading major organizational initiatives. More than 70% of surveyed CLOs are leading or co-leading at least five enterprise-wide transformation projects.
Key initiatives include:
- Legal entity rationalization, which ranked as the top priority globally (except in Australia, where it was second).
- Digital transformation, workforce and talent optimization, tax efficiency, and company reorganization in the United States.
Moreover, trust between legal functions and the wider enterprise is robust, with 85% of respondents reporting very or extremely high trust levels. CLOs recognize, however, that communication gaps, misalignment, and low transparency are barriers that must be addressed to maintain this trust.
Embracing Generative AI (GenAI)
CLOs are uniquely positioned to guide their organizations through the adoption of Generative AI (GenAI). With 93% of CLOs acknowledging the transformative potential of GenAI, they are developing policies and strategies to navigate its complexities in a rapidly shifting regulatory landscape. GenAI offers significant benefits, such as:
- Accelerating innovation
- Enhancing process efficiency
- Reducing costs
However, only 45% of CLOs believe their leadership teams are aligned on AI strategies, and just 27% feel their organizations possess the necessary skills for effective implementation. This has led many CLOs to collaborate with external partners like law firms, alternative legal service providers (ALSPs), and technology advisors to build in-house expertise.
Meeting Rising Workloads with Innovation
With legal workloads increasing—as reported by 82% of respondents—CLOs are reevaluating hiring, training, and outsourcing strategies. Nearly half of surveyed legal functions delegate their workload to external counsel or ALSPs, a figure expected to grow, particularly in the United States, where 86% anticipate increased ALSP usage in the next year.
To meet these demands, CLOs are embracing technology to streamline operations. Innovations in digitalization and automation are enabling legal teams to focus on strategic priorities by reducing manual tasks. Technology is particularly effective in areas like:
- Knowledge management
- Data analytics and reporting
- Transaction management
Adding legal operations specialists to lead these initiatives is becoming a key consideration for forward-thinking CLOs.
Building Skills for Future Success
The expanding scope of CLO responsibilities requires a diverse set of tools, skills, and partnerships. GenAI, globalization, and complex operating models demand that CLOs excel in cross-functional leadership and external vendor management. By mastering these areas, CLOs can enhance their organization’s competitive advantage and contribute to long-term success.
As the expectations placed on CLOs continue to grow, those who adapt by integrating technology, fostering collaboration, and driving enterprise-wide initiatives will remain indispensable in shaping their organizations’ future.
