Uncertainty over regulatory changes is still stressing out in-house attorneys—and keeping their teams busy. New data from legal staffing and consulting firm Robert Half Legal indicates that compliance and/or regulation management is the most common corporate counsel top priority for 2018.

The data, which is based on 175 telephone interviews with lawyers from companies with at least 1,000 employees in the United States or Canada, found that 41 percent of respondents were most focused on compliance and regulation.

“[That's] not a surprise, with the regulatory landscape constantly changing, across multiple fronts and industries,” said Jamy Sullivan, the executive director of Robert Half. “We have quite a bit going on in the different regulations out there right now and they're deadline-driven.” 

Mergers and acquisitions was the second most common concern for in-house respondents, with 14 percent citing M&A as their top priority this year. Not too far behind M&A was risk and crisis management, the top focus for 13 percent, and data privacy and security at 12 percent.

“2017 was a record-breaking year for M&A activity,” Sullivan said. “That's continuing to show. With this pro-business legislation, tax reform, you will continue to see M&A acceleration.” 

Nearly one in 10 respondents listed “something else,” “don't know” or “can't choose just one” for their top 2018 priority.

A 2017 survey, “The General Counsel Up-at-Night Report,” from Corporate Counsel affiliate ALM Intelligence and Morrison & Foerster, revealed a similar emphasis on regulatory and compliance as a top in-house concern.