Chief Legal Officer
Robert Walters
England
“If you haven’t been through it yourself, hearing from someone who has is the next best thing”
I’ve led legal teams through growth, change, and challenge across industries, borders, and business models.
I care about making legal practical, building great teams, and staying curious about what’s next – whether that’s AI, governance, or getting the most out of people.
I’m a strategic and commercially focused Chief Legal Officer with extensive experience leading global legal and compliance functions in complex, high-growth, and listed environments. I lead a 40-person international legal team across 30+ jurisdictions, supporting a FTSE-listed business through expansion, transformation, and regulatory evolution.
My background spans professional services, online gaming, media, and technology – from pre-IPO scale up and founder-led businesses to public multinationals. I’m trusted at the executive level for clear, business-aligned guidance on cross-border commercial law, employment, data privacy, regulatory compliance, and ESG governance.
A core focus of my work has been embedding legal technology and AI into legal operations, including developing an internal AI ethics framework to guide responsible innovation. I bring a forward-thinking approach to legal transformation, always grounded in practical, risk-balanced execution.
I’m also active in public affairs and policy, contributing to government consultations and participating in industry roundtables on IR35, employment law reform, cybersecurity, and data protection. I work closely with trade bodies to align business needs with emerging regulation.
As part of my broader contribution to the profession, I regularly speak on the evolving role of the General Counsel, legal innovation, and building inclusive, high-performing teams. I strongly advocate for social mobility, diversity, and neurodiversity in leadership. This includes work with the Early Careers Foundation, support for legal education initiatives, and mentoring future leaders from underrepresented backgrounds.
Key areas of expertise:
“To be a great GC, you need to build ‘wisdom’, not just ‘knowledge’.”
Learn more about “To be a great GC, you need to build ‘wisdom’, not just ‘knowledge’.”