General Counsel in Africa are navigating uncharted waters. Faced with expanding mandates and lean budgets, they’re being called to lead far beyond the legal department.
A new report, On the Horizon: A 2025 African GC Perspective, offers the first sweeping look at the realities confronting in-house legal leaders across the continent and the findings are both sobering and urgent.
The survey, conducted by the African Corporate and Government Counsel Forum (ACGC) in partnership with Afriwise, collected insights from 129 General Counsel and senior legal professionals in 41 African countries.
It paints a picture of a profession standing at a critical crossroads where the demands are rising, but the tools and support often are not.
More than half (56%) of the respondents cited growing regulatory pressure as their top challenge. And while 70% agreed that access to in-country legal intelligence is vital, only 19% are currently using tools to track regulatory changes in real time. Legal teams are operating in a reactive state, often dependent on informal channels or external counsel to keep up with fast-evolving laws.
“This is a defining moment for the in-house legal function in Africa,” said Cynthia Lareine, Director and Co-Founder of ACGC. “General Counsel are being called on to lead strategic decision-making, shape governance frameworks and advice across the business. But the systems and investment needed to support this expanded role are often still lacking.
The report underscores the breadth of modern in-house counsel roles. A full 83% now oversee compliance functions, 41% are responsible for ethics, and 37% handle government relations. Yet many operate on limited means 56% report working with annual legal budgets under $150,000, and nearly half say their teams are understaffed.
These constraints are taking a toll. Over half of respondents (53%) noticed increased stress and anxiety within their teams in the past year.
Despite the immense pressure, legal departments are expected to align with global standards particularly in ESG, anti-corruption, and data privacy regardless of how advanced their local legal frameworks may be.
“General Counsel in Africa are not just managing legal risks. They are crucial to business strategy, reputation management, and navigating uncertainty,” said Nankunda Katangaza, Co-Founder and Director at ACGC. “This report is more than just a snapshot. It’s a roadmap for building the legal function of the future one that’s equipped with better data, systems, and talent.”
Among the most pressing issues: regulatory fragmentation. With laws changing frequently and unevenly across jurisdictions, GCs face challenges tracking developments efficiently.
The lack of harmonised legal systems adds another layer of complexity, especially for those advising on cross-border business or digital transformation efforts.
The report includes commentary from over 20 legal experts and is intended not only as a benchmark but as a strategic tool.
Its authors hope the findings will spark meaningful investment in legal infrastructure and elevate the role of the in-house counsel across Africa.
