Gatekeeper to
Business Enabler

Gatekeeper to Business Enabler

The role of the GC in Asia-Pacific has evolved considerably over the last decade. Today, the legal department is heavily involved in driving strategic decision-making and the GC is far more influential within the senior management team. Our research this year suggests this trend has been accelerated by the rapid adoption of LegalTech and AI, as well as by internal pressure to reduce the cost base within in-house legal departments.

GCs tell us that they see their role as a strategic advisor to their businesses, sitting at the heart of decision-making and continually seeking ways in which to better align with business priorities. To a far greater extent than in the past, today’s GC is an influential advisor to senior management and the board, playing a leading role in guiding decisions across areas such regulatory and geopolitical challenges, strategic company growth and litigation risk.

As Rishi Gautam, Global GC at Tata Consumables, emphasised when interviewed for the Chambers Asia-Pacific launch: “Today the legal function isn’t just about saying no anymore. It’s finding ways and means of saying yes in a responsible manner.”

In line with the increased sophistication of the in-house team, GCs in Asia-Pacific have become more selective in choosing the work they choose to send out to external counsel. One client who provided feedback to Chambers Asia-Pacific 2026 observed: “In-house teams are expanding as specialised internal functions, leaving external consultancy to focus on complex novel matters."

Watch: An In-House Counsel View of Gatekeeper to
Business Enabler

Rishi Gautam, Global GC,
Tata Consumables

Businesses still need and value external counsel for complex work, but there is a strong focus on reducing outside instruction for routine matters. One interviewee who provided feedback during the Singapore research, highlighted that their goal is to “utilise external legal support only where in-house expertise and resources are lacking and for risk management purposes.”

Cost pressure within the business is one of the drivers for this trend, as organisations look to cut costs and rely more on their internal team. “There is increased cost sensitivity on legal spend. There is pressure to rely on in-house legal’s subject matter expertise to provide legal services,” shared one client source this year.

Overall, today’s GC is required to be far more strategic and proactive than in the past. As businesses continue to leverage the benefits of technological innovation, we expect to see the role continue to evolve in the coming years.

Watch: An In-House Counsel View of Gatekeeper to Business Enabler

Kenji Tagaya, Executive Officer, Head of Legal & Secretariat Division, JERA

Which of these do you believe best describes the role of a typical GC today, in your jurisdiction?

Compliance gatekeeper
Legal soundboard
Strategic advisor
Core business decision maker