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The role of in-house counsel has undergone a profound transformation in recent years. No longer relegated to crisis management and reactive problem-solving, today’s legal teams are expected to anticipate risks before they materialize. This evolution reflects the increasingly complex global business landscape, where regulatory scrutiny, reputational concerns, and operational risks demand a forward-looking approach.
Why Proactive Risk Management Matters
According to a 2024 Thomson Reuters Institute report, multinational corporations face unprecedented challenges across disparate regulatory landscapes. For the ten thousand multinational companies affected worldwide by the Global Minimum Tax alone, compliance is “no longer a future concern but a present reality requiring sophisticated data management and reporting capabilities” (Thomson Reuters Tax). With in-house legal departments reporting potential reductions of 20 to 50 percent in outside counsel spend through more strategic approaches, the financial case for proactive risk management is compelling (Above the Law).
Five Foundational Approaches to Proactive Risk Management
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Effective risk management requires breaking down organizational silos. “Multicloud security should be a shared responsibility between the CISO, cloud architects, DevOps, and security engineering teams,” notes Ensar Seker, CISO at SOCRadar. “This balanced approach maintains clear ownership while fostering the cross-functional collaboration necessary for comprehensive security management” (CSO Online). In-house counsel should establish regular touchpoints with compliance, IT, finance, and operations teams to identify emerging risks.
Early Legal Involvement in Business Planning
Progressive legal departments are moving from reactive responders to strategic advisors embedded in business planning processes. Future-proof legal teams are developing “scorecards that directly tie to business outcomes, making it easy for executives to see how legal accelerates revenue, reduces exposure, and contributes to enterprise goals” (Above the Law). This shift enables counsel to identify potential regulatory issues early in project development.
Dynamic Compliance Monitoring Tools
AI-powered compliance platforms now enable real-time risk monitoring across global operations. SEON’s AML Compliance solution exemplifies this trend, applying “real-time capabilities, data quality and limitless [customization]” to compliance use cases, “helping teams tailor risk programs to new products, regulatory jurisdictions, internal policies, and evolving risks” (The Fintech Times). These tools allow legal teams to shift from manual compliance checking to strategic risk oversight.
Global Training and Awareness Programs
Building a risk-aware culture requires consistent, culturally sensitive training initiatives. Advanced legal departments are implementing scenario-based training programs that reflect the specific regulatory environments of each operational region. Training programs should emphasize both compliance requirements and the business reasoning behind them, fostering better understanding and adherence across the organization.
Continual Assessment and Scenario Planning
Regulatory landscapes evolve constantly. Dynamic risk assessment frameworks that incorporate regular scenario planning exercises help legal teams stay ahead of changes. PwC analysts have warned that rapidly evolving sectors create “heightened risks related to IP security, regulatory compliance and strategic alignment” (Fierce Biotech). Regular tabletop exercises modeling potential regulatory changes can prepare organizations to pivot quickly when necessary.
Case Example
EnerMech’s collaboration with ExxonMobil on the Hoover Diana development demonstrates successful proactive risk management. Its “early proactive collaboration with ExxonMobil ensured its comprehensive approach is optimized for safety, efficiency, and regulatory compliance” (World Oil). This partnership approach established “a new benchmark for efficiency and safety” while ensuring full regulatory compliance in a complex operational environment.
Key Takeaways and Action Steps
- Establish cross-functional risk committees with clear reporting lines
- Implement AI-powered compliance monitoring tools across global operations
- Develop region-specific training materials that address local regulatory nuances
- Create risk scorecards that demonstrate legal’s contribution to business objectives
- Conduct quarterly scenario planning exercises to prepare for regulatory shifts
The most effective in-house legal teams do not just respond to problems—they prevent them. By embedding proactive risk management strategies throughout the organization, counsel can protect corporate interests while positioning legal as a strategic business partner essential to long-term success.
This article was produced in partnership with GetGloby. Review our AI Standards here.
Sources
- Thomson Reuters Institute, “Japan’s legal market: A glimpse into the future of global law,” 2025. thomsonreuters.com/en-us/posts/legal/japan-legal-market-report-2025
- Thomson Reuters Tax, “Global Minimum Tax (GMT) and the Data Dilemma,” 2025. tax.thomsonreuters.com/blog/global-minimum-tax-gmt-and-the-data-dilemma
- Above the Law, “Future-Proofing Legal: What It Takes in 2025,” 2025. abovethelaw.com/2025/06/future-proofing-legal-what-it-takes-in-2025
- CSO Online, “8 Tips for Mastering Multicloud Security,” 2025. csoonline.com/article/4003915/8-tips-for-mastering-multicloud-security.html
- CSO Online, “Security, Risk and Compliance in the World of AI Agents,” 2023. csoonline.com/article/4008268/security-risk-and-compliance-in-the-world-of-ai-agents.html
- The Fintech Times, “SEON Unveils AML Compliance Suite to Help Compliance Teams with AI-Powered Functionality,” 2025. thefintechtimes.com/seon-unveils-aml-compliance-suite-to-help-compliance-teams-with-ai-powered-functionality
- Fierce Biotech, “China’s Rapid Rise Creates Heightened Risks for Pharma: PwC,” 2025. fiercebiotech.com/biotech/chinas-rapid-rise-creates-heightened-risks-pharma-pwc
- World Oil, “ExxonMobil Awards EnerMech Decommissioning Contract for U.S. Gulf,” 2025. worldoil.com/news/2025/6/16/exxonmobil-awards-enermech-decommissioning-contract-for-u-s-gulf
