siliconindia | | June 20188Headquartered in Massachusetts, Fidelity Investments is a multinational financial services company offering a wide range of investment products such as Mutual Funds, ETFs, Fixed income Bonds & CDs, and specializes in Financial Planning & Advice, Retirement Plans, Wealth Management Services, and Trading & Brokerage services. By Shobhana Nikam, VP & Head ­ Legal, Fidelity Investmentshen a good friend of mine who was the Head of a Busi-ness was asked what he thought was a role of a lead-er in an organization, he said, `Pro-pel the Value; Preserve the integrity, and Protect from Risks'. This suc-cinctly sums-up what you bring to the table, in your own unique way. It doesn't matter whether you are the CEO or the General Counsel (GC), for the lines are blurring in terms of expectations. And that, to me is the remarkable transformation in the role of the General Counsel.No longer is the GC viewed as the stiff, overbearing adviser and the bearer of bad news. Today's global businesses and cross-border transactions have compelled the GC to shift gears to be tuned to the changing market place and the demands of today's businesses, in order to stay relevant. The last decade has seen a clear shift of the Legal Department from being just an oversight & advisory function to that of an early engagement partner. With lean teams and stringent budgets to engage with outside counsel, it has become critical for WBEHAVIORAL TRAITS FOR THE EVOLVING ROLE OF THE GENERAL COUNSELIN MY OPINION
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