A first-of-its-kind survey has revealed that General Counsel (GCs) across Africa are grappling with expanding responsibilities and limited resources, as they increasingly take on strategic roles within their organizations amid growing regulatory and governance challenges.
The report, titled On the Horizon: A 2025 African GC Perspective, was published by the African Corporate and Government Counsel Forum (ACGC) in partnership with legal intelligence platform Afriwise. It is based on anonymized responses from 129 senior in-house legal professionals across 41 African countries, offering an unprecedented snapshot of the in-house legal landscape across the continent.
According to the survey, over 80% of respondents said their responsibilities now formally include compliance, with many also overseeing ethics, ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance), and regulatory engagement. However, 48% reported operating with understaffed teams, and more than half work with annual legal budgets under $150,000. Only 19% of GCs use tools that provide structured oversight of regulatory obligations across jurisdictions.
“This is a defining moment for the in-house legal function in Africa,” said Cynthia Lareine, Director and Co-Founder of ACGC. “GCs are being called on to lead strategic decision-making and shape governance, yet the systems and investment to support this shift remain inadequate.”
The report highlights regulatory fragmentation as a key challenge, with laws evolving rapidly across many jurisdictions but legal updates often being inconsistent or difficult to access. As a result, many teams still rely on external counsel or informal networks to stay current.
Nankunda Katangaza, ACGC Director and Co-Founder, emphasized that African GCs are increasingly central to business strategy. “They are not just managing legal risk, they’re enabling growth, safeguarding reputation, and supporting leadership through uncertainty,” she said. “This report offers a roadmap for strengthening the profession through investment in systems, data, and talent.”
The survey also includes commentary from over 20 legal professionals, noting mounting pressure on GCs to meet international standards in areas such as anti-corruption, data protection, and ESG, often regardless of local regulatory maturity.
Serving as both a benchmark and a strategic tool, the report offers actionable insights for legal departments, boards, and policymakers. Its authors hope the findings will drive long-term investment in legal infrastructure and reinforce the evolving role of in-house counsel across Africa.
Written By Rodney Mbua
