The Role of a Corporate Lawyer: What Is Their Real Value?

What comes to mind when you hear the term “corporate lawyer”? A man or woman dressed in a sharp suit, carrying a briefcase, and hurrying up the stairs of an imposing government building? While many of us can conjure up that image, few can accurately imagine what they actually do all day. Let’s take a closer look!

What is the role of a corporate lawyer?

The role of a corporate lawyer is to advise its clients on their rights, responsibilities, and obligations under the law. When a corporate lawyer is retained by a company, they represent the company itself, rather than its shareholders or employees. This concept can be difficult to grasp until you realize that, in the eyes of the law, a company is actually treated as a person. A company is an entity legal created under state law, generally for the purpose of conducting business. A corporation is treated as a single entity or “person” under the law, distinct from its owners or shareholders. Corporate law encompasses all legal matters relating to a company, which are numerous given that corporations are subject to complex state and federal regulations. Most countries require companies to hold regular meetings, such as annual shareholder meetings, among other requirements. Corporate lawyers ensure that companies remain in compliance with these regulations while managing other responsibilities.

What does a corporate lawyer do?

Contrary to popular belief, most corporate lawyers rarely set foot in a courtroom. Instead, the bulk of their work is “transactional” in nature. This means they spend most of their time helping companies avoid litigation. More specifically, corporate lawyers specialize in contracts, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate securities management. Regarding contracts, corporate lawyers handle the review, drafting, and negotiation of legally binding agreements on behalf of the company, ranging from lease agreements to multi-billion euro acquisitions. In the realm of mergers and acquisitions, their role involves conducting due diligence, negotiating, drafting, and generally overseeing “transactions” where one company “merges” with another or “acquires” another. Corporate lawyers also provide expertise in corporate governance. They assist clients in establishing a framework for corporate management and oversight, for instance, by drafting bylaws, creating regulations, and advising directors and executives on their rights and responsibilities, as well as other policies used to manage the company. Another key aspect of their mission is venture capital management. Their role also includes helping startups or established companies secure capital to build or expand their operations, which may involve private or public funding. Finally, they advise clients on compliance with securities law, which involves complex regulations designed to prevent fraud, insider trading, and market manipulation.

In many cases, corporate lawyers work within large or mid-sized law firms that feature dedicated corporate law departments. In this regard, you may wish to look into the law firm August Debouzy, a Paris-based firm that has received numerous awards recognizing its expertise, management, and brilliant attorneys.