Indispensable Counsel

Legislation and case law following the relatively recent corporate scandals have increased scrutiny on the ethics and integrity of individuals, and the culture they create, at the highest levels within the corporate structure. The corporate General Counsel (GC) is a key member of that group. This enhanced attention increases the already substantial tensions facing the GC, who must navigate the demands and interests of various corporate stakeholders-including the board of directors, officers (particularly the CEO), stockholders, and employees-while also serving the best interests of the client, which is-and should only be-the corporation itself.

In light of these heightened expectations on ethics, integrity, and other liability concerns, Indispensable Counsel: The Chief Legal Officer in the New Reality examines the key role of the independent, yet business-oriented, chief legal officer. Indispensable Counsel provides readers with the foundations of corporate representation followed by practical guidelines on how the multiple roles of GC are, or should be, resolved, with best practices as the goal. Former Supreme Court Justice of Delaware E. Norman Veasey and coauthor Christine T. Di Guglielmo bring their stature and wealth of experience in the field to bare in this must-have resource for anyone interested in the role of corporate counsel.

E. Norman Veasey is a senior partner at Weil, Gotshal & Manges. In addition to other roles in the firm, he advises on corporate governance issues involving the responsibilities of corporate directors. Mr. Veasey is the former Chief Justice of the Delaware Supreme Court, stepping down in 2004, after serving a 12-year term. His tenure as CJ was preceded by 34 years as a corporate practitioner and litigator.

Christine T. Di Guglielmo is an associate at Weil, Gotshal & Manges, practicing in the Delaware office. Her practice concentrates on corporate and litigation matters. She is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Law School (summa cum laude), where she served as executive editor of The University of Pennsylvania Law Review. Ms. Di Guglielmo was a judicial law clerk for Chief Justice Veasey during the 2003-04 term.