For those of us who have championed the idea of “general counsel as global business strategists,” KPMG's most recent study is a welcome validator of the essential points we've emphasized.

“Over the Horizon: General Counsel Report 2014” follows up on KPMG's pioneering 2012 study “Beyond the Law,” which assessed the extent to which GCs are now business strategists, particularly as they're positioned vis-à-vis corporate boards. For a communications professional, the report has additional value in its emphasis on risk management and crisis prevention, including rich anecdotal evidence and attributed comments by top in-house lawyers.

The study cites Kenneth Frazier, Merck's GC during the Vioxx turmoil and its current CEO. Frazier's handling of those reputational and legal issues must have been decisive to his promotion. “Never waste a crisis,” as the report reminds its readers.