In-House Counsel Reveal Top Priorities for 2026
From technology transformation to talent retention, learn what’s on the mind of legal department leaders in the US and UK.
The role of in-house counsel (IHC) has shifted considerably. What was once primarily a gatekeeper function has evolved into something far more strategic and complex. With a broad set of challenges at play, what are company lawyers truly prioritising?
To understand where legal leaders are focusing their efforts over the next year, Chambers surveyed 204 senior in-house counsel across the US and UK. Published in a new report, their responses reveal a profession balancing transformation against operational pressures.
“If there's one thing we hear consistently from in-house counsel, it's this: the pace of change feels relentless. Between AI disruption, talent pressures, cost scrutiny and rising stakeholder expectations, legal leaders and their teams are navigating challenges that would have seemed exceptional just a few years ago.”
Vian Chowdhury, Head of Global International Capabilities, Chambers and Partners
Technology to the Fore
The headline finding is crystal-clear: technology and innovation have become the top strategic priority for in-house counsel on both sides of the Atlantic. In the US, 41% of respondents cited it as a critical focus area for the next 18 months, with UK counsel not far behind at 37%.
In-house teams are exploring process automation, experimenting with AI applications and implementing platforms that connect legal work with wider business systems. The goal is operational transformation that delivers measurable impact—not just efficiency gains, but strategic advantage.
Technology priorities can often intersect with other challenges. Teams investing in legal data analytics, for instance, could be better positioned to forecast spend, benchmark performance and justify investment to the C-suite. Technology can become both an enhancer and evidencer of legal department value.
In-House Counsel Talent Retention
Close behind technology comes employee development and retention. One in three in-house counsel identified this as a top priority (US 32%, UK 33%), and it's not difficult to see why. Legal departments face competition from all sides: not least from private-practice firms offering ever-higher salaries.
The consistent ranking across both markets suggests this isn't a regional issue but a profession-wide challenge. Legal departments need to build teams with the right blend of legal expertise and commercial fluency, while also developing the digital and analytical skills that modern legal operations demand.
Cost Optimisation and Profitability
Cost optimisation and profitability came in third place overall. Legal departments are clearly under pressure to demonstrate value, manage spend and align closely with business performance metrics.
In the US, cost optimisation (26%) is framed within a broader push for operational efficiency and strategic enablement. While not the top concern, it reflects growing scrutiny from the C-suite and a shift toward performance-led legal operations. In the UK, it scored higher at 30%.
Find out where in-house counsel placed client satisfaction, cybersecurity and ESG on the list of focus areas for 2026.
Regional Differences in Strategic Focus
US legal leaders showed a more concentrated focus, with clear emphasis on technology (41%) followed by talent (32%) and cost optimisation (26%). The narrower spread of priorities points to a market with sharper strategic focus—and potentially more pressure to deliver on specific objectives.
UK in-house counsel, by contrast, are managing a broader spread of priorities. Technology and client satisfaction tie at 37%, with talent, compliance and risk management all clustering around 33%. Cost optimisation remains significant at 30%.
The data suggests UK counsel are navigating multidimensional challenges rather than prioritising one or two dominant themes. This breadth of focus reflects market complexity, heightened stakeholder expectations and a broader in-house counsel remit.
Conclusion: From Problems to Solutions
Our Legal Challenges 2026 report looks beyond the priorities to find out what solutions are being employed. It explores how in-house teams are using legal intelligence to benchmark performance, forecast spend and even influence recruitment strategies. It also reveals how law firm rankings are used in the selection process for outside counsel and even internal hires.
“When the landscape is shifting rapidly, access to peer benchmarks and market intelligence becomes a strategic advantage, not just a reference point. In uncertain times, trusted data provides the foundation for confident decision making.”
Vian Chowdhury, Head of Global International Capabilities, Chambers and Partners
Key Takeaways
- Technology and innovation have emerged as the top strategic priority for in-house counsel in both the US and UK, signalling a profession-wide shift towards digital transformation and operational modernisation.
- Talent retention remains a critical challenge, with one in three in-house counsel identifying employee development and retention as a top priority.
- The third priority across the board is cost optimisation and profitability.
- Regional differences suggest US counsel are showing sharper focus on fewer priorities while UK teams balance broader, more evenly distributed challenges.
How Legal Intelligence is Changing the Game
Read the new report to see how in-house lawyers are harnessing legal data analytics and law firm rankings to make decisions.