An earlier post discusses the four main strategic decisions a general counsel can take (See my post of Feb. 10, 2007.). Other strategic decisions that affect a law department might be made over the objection even of the general counsel.
To sell or buy a major business unit, to form a shared services organization (See my post of Dec. 31, 2 2006 on shared services structures for law departments.), to go public or private, to sweepingly reorganize the business units, to outsource a major function such as information technology – these company-altering decisions pull the law department in their wake. Each large-scale decision reverberates through the law department’s structure, responsibilities, position relative to other staff groups, and staff allocation.