Many in-house lawyers are proud to say that they have good relationships with executives at their company. But according to a recent Fordham Law Review article, being too friendly with the business side is a bad move.
The article by Sung Hui Kim, a University of California, Los Angeles School of Law professor, argues that in-house lawyers should aim to be “gatekeepers” that protect a company from both outside and inside threats, instead of pals that may let risky corporate behavior slide. “Being an inside lawyer is not a popularity contest and certainly not about making friends,” Kim writes. “Rather, being an inside lawyer is about protecting the organization—even from threats arising from within.”
