“The modern GC is blessed with an interesting but challenging role!”

An interview with Caroline Paranikas, Chief Legal Officer/Chief Administrative Officer at Prescient Security in USA.

How would you describe the state of the GC Community in your region? How has it changed since you first moved in-house?

The GC role has evolved considerably over the last few years as it has truly become a multi-faceted role: legal expert; strategic business advisor to the board, the executive team and business functions; guide on ethics and compliance; legal ops specialist; crisis navigator; therapist at times, and the list goes on! And of course, we have gone through the AI innovation/disruption: how to best use AI in our practices and organisations without compromising on quality and legal principles.

At the macro level, there is also a lot of uncertainty in the economic and geopolitical landscape at the moment which makes it really tricky at times for GCs to be proactive on risk mitigation. The irony is that with the increased complexity of the role comes the pressure to manage costs and budgets more effectively, which can be tough to navigate. To summarise, the modern GC is blessed with an interesting but challenging role!

Why is expanding your network important to you? What kinds of connections or discussions would be most valuable to you?

I have seen firsthand in my career that legal leadership does not operate in a vacuum. Expanding my network allows me to stay ahead of our evolving legal, regulatory and business landscapes by understanding how others are navigating similar challenges. It’s about sharing best practices and having a sounding board on specific issues. It also allows connections at a human level, so many in my network have become close friends!

What do you want to achieve by collaborating with other GCs and senior in-house lawyers? 

Many of us operate in legal isolation at the executive level. Having a trusted circle where we can discuss wins, hard decisions, grey areas and lessons learned is invaluable.

Are there specific topics, challenges, or experiences you’d like to share or learn more about?

Three areas come to mind in terms of interest: navigating the legal and ethical dimensions of emerging technologies, building high performing legal teams in hybrid and global environments, and shaping up legal’s role in enterprise strategy.