Advocacy Skills For Corporate Counsel
Presenters : Dwight Snyman
Overview
Advocacy for in-house counsel extends well beyond courtroom strategy. Unlike external lawyers, in-house counsel operate from within the business, serving as strategic advisors who must align legal guidance with commercial objectives while managing complex internal dynamics and stakeholder priorities.
This webinar presents in-house advocacy skills required to translate legal complexities into clear, business-relevant advice, tailoring communication for diverse audiences and actively shaping decisions rather than reacting to them.
Join Adv. Dwight Snyman as he unpacks the critical advocacy skills in-house legal professionals need to elevate their influence, drive decision-making and add strategic value to their organisations.
Learning objectives
Attending this webinar will equip you with the following skills:
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Help you grasp how advocacy for in-house counsel differs from courtroom advocacy, focusing on influencing internal decision-making, managing risk and protecting organisational interests across diverse commercial and regulatory settings.
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Equip you with techniques to adapt their advocacy style and messaging for different audiences; whether board members, executives, regulators, operational teams or external legal advisors.
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Provide practical guidance on how to advocate persuasively in negotiations, internal disputes and high-stakes decision-making, ensuring legal positions are aligned with commercial objectives and organisational risk appetite.
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Prepare you to effectively represent their organization in moments of legal, regulatory, or reputational crisis, ensuring clear, confident, and commercially astute advocacy under pressure.
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Develop skills needed to advocate internally for the strategic use of external lawyers and how to manage, brief and collaborate with external legal teams to ensure seamless alignment with corporate strategy and priorities.
Content
The webinar will cover the following topics:
- The Evolving Role of In-House Counsel as Advocates.
- Corporate Legal Advocacy vs Traditional Courtroom Advocacy.
- Strategic Legal Risk Management.
- Operational and Commercial Integration of Legal Functions.
- Corporate Governance and Legal Oversight.
- Audience-Centric Advocacy Techniques
- Stakeholder Analysis and Communication Strategies
- Tailoring Legal Submissions to Non-Legal Audiences
- Boardroom Advocacy: Structuring Submissions for Executive Decision-Makers
- Regulatory Advocacy: Engagement with Statutory and Supervisory Authorities
- Internal Advocacy: Advising Business Units, HR, Compliance, and Operations
- Negotiation Advocacy and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
- Principled Negotiation Techniques
- Settlement Strategy Formulation
- Managing Commercial Disputes Pre-Litigation
- Advocating in Mediation, Arbitration, and Conciliation
- Interest-Based vs Positional Bargaining in Commercial Contexts
- Crisis Advocacy and Reputational Risk Management
- Legal Crisis Management Frameworks
- Media and Public Relations Advocacy in Legal Controversies
- Rapid Response Legal Strategies
- Engaging with Regulators and Enforcement Agencies under Duress
- Preserving Privilege and Confidentiality in Crisis Communications
- Strategic Briefing and Management of External Counsel
- Instruction Protocols and Scope of Mandates
- Cost-Efficiency and Fee Structure Negotiation
- Advocating the Organisation's Position through External Counsel
- Oversight, Reporting, and Performance Management of Panel Firms
- Coordinating Multi-Jurisdictional Legal Representation
- Decision-Shaping Advocacy within Corporate Structures
- Legal Policy Development and Implementation
- Advocating for Legal Compliance Frameworks
- Participating in Strategic Business Planning
- Balancing Legal Risk and Commercial Expediency
- Influencing Organizational Decision-Making without Direct Authority
- Ethical and Professional Considerations in Corporate Advocacy
- Duties to the Organisation vs Personal Ethical Obligations
- Conflict of Interest Management
- Upholding Professional Privilege in Multi-Stakeholder Environments
- Confidentiality in Complex Corporate Structures
- Adherence to Regulatory and Bar Council Directives