How to Excel as a General Counsel and Benefit your Business

June 14, 2012 - PRLog -- Patrick Baeten, General Counsel, GDF Suez Energy, joins IQPC Exchange to discuss:
Evolving from Legal Expert to General Manager - How a General Counsel can Excel as a Business Manager and Understand the Business Needs

IQPC Exchange: Firstly, as general counsel at GDF Suez Energy Europe, Patrick, what is your reporting structure and how involved are you in borad level decision making?

P Baeten: Well, that’s quite simple, actually. We’ve got a… within the whole of the group, meaning GDF Suez, not only for Europe, but internationally, we have a principle according to which general counsel reports in the matrix line and double reporting line to the group general counsel on the one hand and to either the CEO or an executive committee member on the other hand. And for me, that’s the executive committee member in charge of legal communications and HR at an inter-Europe [?] level. That being said, I have obviously direct access anytime to the CEO of our business line, which at the same time is vice president and vice chairman of the board at group level.  

IQPC Exchange: Thank you. Now, in GDF Suez Energy, how would you describe the role of the general counsel and what are the key responsibilities, Patrick?

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