The Global GC Academy, launched in London in 2014 by Winmark, offers specialized courses for international general counsel and in-house lawyers, focusing on essential skills and best practices within legal departments. It features a General Counsel Certificate and award programs based on a decade of insights from leading general counsel across industries, providing practical tools and strategies for effective legal management. The curriculum encompasses 21 core skills and is supported by a European advisory panel from premier companies, with training available in multiple international locations.

1. .
Courses are open to international General Counsel and senior in-house lawyers but not to private practitioners
Enabling Global General Counsel and in-house lawyers to be the best they can be in role
The Global General Counsel (GC) Academy was launched in London (2014) by Winmark, the world leader in professional networks. Winmark runs the biggest European Chief Legal Officer (CLO) network which includes Fortune, FTSE and other public companies in G8 countries with a total legal spend of approximately £2bn.
‘Over the last 10 years we have developed a wealth of world class management practice for General Counsel, identifying 21 core in-house skills. For each area we offer unique best practice guides, multinational case studies and a collection of proven implementation tools.’
John Jeffcock
CEO, Winmark
WELCOME TO THE GLOBAL GC ACADEMY
‘The General Counsel Certificate is brilliant and a must have for all leading GCs’
Sandie Okoro
Global General Counsel, HSBC Asset Management
The Global GC Academy is Unique
 Capturing the best working practice of leading General Counsel.
 Providing ready-to-use, tried and tested policies, templates and guidance.
 Instilling the skills, knowledge and management expertise required of a General Counsel.
 Courses built on the Intellectual Capital and collected knowledge of Winmark’s CLO Network.
 Based on more than 500 CLO documents and 28 CLO best practice guides over 10 years.
 Providing business knowledge and leadership skills specific to legal departments.
GENERAL COUNSEL CERTIFICATE AND AWARD PROGRAMMES
The General Counsel Certificate is a required qualification that many Fortune CEOs expect all their senior in-house counsel to hold.
 Built on 10 years of unique content from over 250 of the world’s leading General Counsel.
 Curriculum built and delivered by GCs with an unmatched range of experience.
 Case studies and tools from dozens of the world’s leading organisations, including Nike, BP, Walmart, Vodafone, Sony, Ford and DuPont.
1. The Role of Legal with Business and the Board
2. Managing the Legal Department
3. Strategic Planning for Legal Functions
4. Monitoring & Responding to Changing Legislation
5. Talent Strategies & Alternative Career Paths
6. Legal Function ROI and KPIs
7. Legal Budgeting & Financial Management
8. Legal Function Efficiency and Cost Reviews
9. IT Solutions for Legal Functions
10. Legal Functions Surviving M&A
General Counsel Award
4 modules
£ 2,500 + VAT
32 CPD hours
Strategic Planning for Legal Functions
June 2014
Legal Function Efficiency & Cost Reviews
September 2014
Panel Reviews
November 2014
Legal Risk Management
January 2015
General Counsel Certificate
21 modules
£ 6,000 + VAT
100 CPD hours
11. Dispute and Litigation Management
12. Ethics, Bribery & Corruption
13. Panel Reviews
14. Pricing and Negotiations
15. Law Firm Management and Appraisal Systems
16. Project Management & Consulting Skills
17. Legal Risk Management
18. Legal Reduction of Cyber Risk
19. Crisis Management
20. Media Management, including Social Media
21. Entering New Markets
All the modules are CPD certified and can be completed within 2 years
The European Advisory Panel of the Global GC Academy consists of General Counsel from HSBC, Centrica, Lloyds (UK), Randstad (The Netherlands) and Ranbaxy (India).
Candidates come from leading sectors including pharmaceuticals, IT, financial and oil & gas from UK, Germany, Switzerland, Nigeria, Italy and UAE.
London 2014
New York 2016
Hong Kong 2018
‘The Global GC Academy will enable international General Counsel and in-house lawyers to build and lead world class legal practices’
Anca Mandruleanu
Head of Academies and Development
Winmark