African General Counsel face expanding roles amid resource gaps, survey finds

General Counsel (GCs) across Africa are increasingly being required to take on multiple responsibilities, balancing core legal duties with oversight of risk management, compliance, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) matters, and corporate governance.

This is happening against a backdrop of growing legal complexity and persistent infrastructure gaps, according to On the Horizon: A 2025 African GC Perspective, a new report by the African Corporate and Government Counsel Forum (ACGC) in partnership with legal intelligence platform Afriwise.

The report, based on anonymised responses from 129 senior legal professionals across 41 African countries, offers one of the most comprehensive snapshots of the in-house legal profession on the continent to date. It highlights a profession navigating expanding mandates and rising expectations, often without the necessary resources, systems, or investment.

More than 80% of respondents said they now hold formal responsibility for compliance, while many are also leading work on ethics, ESG, and regulatory engagement.

Despite these broadening roles, over half reported annual legal budgets of less than $150,000, and 48% said their teams are understaffed. Many reported lacking dedicated systems to manage legal and regulatory change, with only 19% using tools that offer structured oversight across multiple jurisdictions.

“This is a critical moment for in-house legal teams in Africa,” said Cynthia Lareine, Director and Co-Founder of ACGC. “General Counsel are increasingly involved in strategic decision-making and governance, but often without the supporting systems or investment.”

Regulatory fragmentation remains a key challenge, with legal teams struggling to keep up with rapidly changing requirements. Many GCs said they rely heavily on external counsel or informal networks to monitor legislative updates, as access to reliable, real-time legal information remains limited in several jurisdictions.

“General Counsel in Africa are not only managing legal risk — they are supporting business growth, safeguarding corporate reputation, and advising leadership through complex and uncertain environments,” said Nankunda Katangaza, Director and Co-Founder of ACGC. “To keep pace, there is a pressing need to invest in legal systems, data, and skilled personnel.”

The report also draws on insights from over 20 legal experts, who noted increasing pressure on African GCs to meet international standards in areas such as ESG, anti-corruption, and data protection, regardless of local regulatory maturity.

There is also growing demand for legal teams to guide digital transformation efforts, support cross-border commercial activity, and lead regulatory engagement, despite the absence of harmonised legal frameworks across the continent.

The report aims to provide a reference point for legal departments, company boards, and policymakers, and calls for sustained investment in legal infrastructure to support the evolving role of in-house counsel in Africa.