Crafty Counsel: Why this matters
The role of General Counsel has never been more complex – or more critical. From fast-moving AI regulation and political sensitivities on ESG, to growing scrutiny around data governance and compliance, the ground is shifting beneath the feet of in-house leaders. That’s why we’ve worked with the team at Travers Smith on GC Outlook 2026. We want to help GCs and in-house teams anticipate what’s coming, and to be able to act (and re-act) with confidence. This guide distils insights on three priority areas, developed with feedback from our community on what’s on the mind of future-focused legal teams.
This guide is more than a snapshot of where things are heading – it’s also a resource detailing what forward-thinking legal leaders should focus on next. Collaborating with Travers Smith brought the deep legal expertise and practical insight needed to navigate the risks and opportunities shaping 2026. Their team sees the challenges in-house professionals are wrestling with every day, and they bring clarity to complexity. Ultimately, our goal is simple: to support the in-house community with relevant, timely, and human insight. Because when legal teams have the right information, they don’t just keep up. They lead.
Travers Smith: Our framing for 2026
Looking ahead in 2026, geopolitical volatility looks set to continue. The impact of US foreign policy and heightened tension in the Middle East underscores the unpredictable and often fragile economic landscape businesses face, which, coupled with the potentially transformative impact of AI and unrelenting regulatory change, create a challenging backdrop for UK businesses. However, we also see reasons for optimism. Following the Autumn Budget, it is hoped that the increased fiscal headroom, and the Chancellor's commitment to holding only one fiscal event a year, will provide a more stable policy environment, helping businesses to plan ahead, and on a macro scale, make the UK a more attractive destination for global investment, especially in high-growth sectors like fintech, advanced manufacturing, and clean energy. Whilst sustained growth remains elusive and government finances remain stretched, the government's long overdue Industrial and Infrastructure Strategies hold out the promise of support for these key sectors.
The government also listened to the concerns of business with the introduction of a six-month qualifying period for unfair dismissal under the Employment Rights Act. There is cautious optimism in global equity markets. The UK's lighter touch listing regime is aimed at rejuvenating our IPO market and there are signs of real momentum. We have already seen evidence of that in the number of IPOs completed towards the end of 2025 and in the pipeline for 2026.
In parallel, the EU's simplification agenda has already had some deregulatory impact on ESG reporting, with the prospect of further EU reforms in the digital sphere under the "Digital Omnibus" proposals.
Staying attuned to changes in the regulatory landscape, while embracing opportunities in the government's growth measures and the transformative potential of AI, will help legal teams to drive success in 2026 and beyond.
Executive snapshot
In our GC Outlook 2026, we will focus on three dominant themes for legal teams:
- Shouldering the regulatory burden: Highlighting the most pressing regulatory reforms on the horizon.
- Managing AI and data compliance: Unpicking the latest developments and spotlighting emerging trends in cybersecurity.
- Delivering more for less: Reimagining what it takes for legal teams to thrive in the AI age.
What GCs should do now
- Prioritise and monitor the most significant regulatory changes, to ensure proactive, business-focused compliance and effective risk management.
- Strengthen oversight of AI and data governance to manage emerging legal, IP and cybersecurity risks.
- Future-proof your legal team by leveraging AI thoughtfully whilst investing in broader business and people skills and honing the specialist knowledge and expertise that distinguish high-performing teams.
