In-house lawyer in 2025: how to protect business from pressure

Column by Rodion Dostatnyi, attorney at law at LESHCHENKO & PARTNERS, for News.LIVE.

In today’s realities, in-house counsel is no longer just checking contracts or providing advice “on demand”. Today, in-house is a strategic partner of business, and often the first line of defense in the face of government pressure.

In the context of war, legal turbulence and growing activity of investigative structures, it is the legal department that is becoming a key element of the company’s sustainability.

The Role of In-House Counsel: From Reaction to Prevention

A modern corporate lawyer has a proactive attitude. His or her mission is to anticipate threats, not just eliminate the consequences. This includes constant monitoring of legislative changes, identifying weaknesses in the business structure, and creating compliance policies that prevent problems from arising. It is the inhouse that creates an environment of legal awareness and builds trust within the company.

The lawyer’s duties also include:

• implementation of internal regulations to prevent questionable practices;
• training of staff on legal boundaries in work;
• legal support of transactions, M&A, corporate changes;
• compliance with the requirements of mobilization legislation;
• creation of an internal control system and legal reporting.

Legal Pressure: What a Threat to Business Looks Like

In 2024-2025, financial transactions – even legal ones – do not escape the increased attention of investigators. The first signals may be subtle: requests for bank secrecy, covert investigative actions, and the collection of information about personnel. Undercover operatives or information injections from unofficial sources often appear.

The culmination has real consequences: searches of offices and homes of the management, seizure of equipment and documents, seizure of accounts and corporate rights. In addition, there is a parallel information attack with distorted facts aimed at undermining trust in the company. This demoralizes the team, provokes the loss of key specialists and business interruption.”

An internal security lawyer

The task of an experienced lawyer is to design a security system before the crisis. This involves auditing vulnerabilities, creating risk scenarios and responses to them. They prepare response algorithms, packages of documents, and conduct trainings on behavior during searches or interrogations.

The lawyer provides legal support for each employee involved in the investigation. We communicate with law enforcement, business associations (EBA), and the Business Ombudsman Council. If necessary, with the media to prevent manipulation.
Digital security plays a separate role. The lawyer initiates the introduction of secure data exchange channels, access control systems, counterparty verification platforms, and rapid response to suspicious activity. He or she also records procedural violations, prepares motions, applications, and complaints for legal confrontation.

What managers should do: an algorithm for minimizing risks

• Involve lawyers at the early stages of strategic decision-making;
• Foster a culture of openness – lawyers should know business processes;
• conduct regular legal security training for staff;
• Collaborate, not conflict – lawyers are not “controllers”, but partners;
• respond to alarms in a timely manner: inspections, inquiries, proceedings;
• involve a lawyer in all key processes even before a threat appears.

Summary: legal protection is part of the strategy