There is little skepticism that the role of today’s GCs have a much broader scope beyond the customary responsibilities of analyzing issues legally, ethically, and objectively. As these roles shift, many CEOs are finding and seeking the GC’s perspective and insights to strategic decisions, but even that is no longer enough. The ability to manage the legal department and provide strategic business counsel are now baseline requirements. The panel will explore the relationship between the GC and business goals, the strategic input that the CEO seeks from the chief legal officer, and the new expected roles of the GC: - GC as gatekeeper and harmonizer - GC as a business partner and producer beyond risk management -Strategies and tools for influencing business discussions from negotiations and pitching to diversity recruiting