In this swiftly growing, equally changing competitive market scenario, every business needs to be wary of even the minutest hurdle in their way ­ be it financial, legal, administration or HR. While most of these hurdles can be handled with a bit of ease, one single legal implication could bring the entire organization on its knee, or even shut-down its operations. As a result, having an in-house legal team is of paramount importance in today's business scenario. However, that's not all! It is necessary to have a leader with strong execution & negotiation skills, future foresight, and thorough knowledge of the diverse legal aspect involved in the business.

This is where a General Counsel (GC) comes into picture. Also called the Chief Legal Officer, a GC reports directly the CEO and handles diverse functions. No longer is a GC limited to the legal department. A GC now must work in close coordination with every department of an organization ­ be it HR, finance, admin, IT/security or even maintenance. He/she must advice the HR department with policy formations, they must also assist the financial department in tax and other compliances. The show doesn't stop here! A GC not only handles any legal complexities of the company, but also ensures it does not get into one.

At a time when data breaches are becoming a common scenario, and legal battles pertaining to IP, Trademark and Copyright are becoming a daily scene, having a GC who is well-versed in all the aspects of a business is of prime importance. Women are no longer falling behind when it comes to having a career in law. They are now occupying top positions in organizations and proving their might. Keeping this in mind, Women Entrepreneur magazine presents to you a list of `Top 10 Women General Counsel -­ 2022', who have proved their mettle through efficient handling of difficult scenarios and skillfully steering their organizations out of harm's way. The list has been crafted by a team of industry veterans, CEOs, VCs and our editorial board, thus delivering inspiring stories of their journey, which hopefully would inspire millions of aspiring female law students.