Moderated by Rory O’Keeffe, Founder and Principal Fractional General Counsel at RMOK Legal, former Partner at Matheson, and former Director of Legal Services at Accenture; and joined by Alexis Goldfinch, Founder of Goldfinch Law, Fractional GC, Chief Legal Officer at Addidat, and former Freshfields lawyer with extensive experience across private practice, in-house leadership, and strategic legal advisory roles.
Our latest Platforum9 session explored one of the most common career questions facing lawyers today: what does it really take to move from private practice into an in-house role?
Drawing on their own experiences across private practice, in-house leadership, and legal consultancy, O’Keeffe and Goldfinch shared practical advice for lawyers considering the transition.
O’Keeffe’s career spans more than 20 years across commercial law, technology, data protection, AI governance, and complex contracting. Having held senior legal leadership positions at Accenture and later becoming a Partner at Matheson, he ultimately founded RMOK Legal, where he now provides Fractional General Counsel services to organisations across the UK, Europe, and the US.
The discussion focused on the realities of modern in-house practice and the skills lawyers need to succeed in increasingly commercial, fast-moving environments.
Five Key Takeaways
1. Experience remains essential
The Fractional GC role is generally suited to lawyers who have already built a strong foundation in practice. Businesses engage fractional counsel because they require experienced advisers who can quickly understand commercial challenges and provide practical solutions. Without sufficient experience, securing these opportunities can be difficult.
2. Curiosity is a critical skill
O’Keeffe described curiosity or “nosiness” as one of the most valuable attributes for an in-house lawyer. Understanding the legal issues alone is not enough; lawyers need to understand how the entire business operates, what drives decision-making, and where risks and opportunities exist.
3. Commercial awareness is non-negotiable
The speakers emphasised that businesses move quickly and legal teams must move with them. Successful in-house lawyers understand commercial priorities, communicate practical solutions, and help organisations achieve their objectives rather than simply identifying legal risks.
4. Communication sits at the heart of the role
Whether building a legal team, leading an established function or acting as a sole adviser, communication is critical. In-house lawyers engage with stakeholders from every part of the business and must be able to adapt their approach to different audiences while maintaining credibility and influence.
5. Risk management is evolving
Legal functions have traditionally been viewed as conservative guardians of risk. While protecting the organisation remains fundamental, modern businesses increasingly expect legal teams to contribute to growth and value creation. This requires lawyers to become comfortable with measured risk-taking and helping the business make informed decisions.
Final Reflections
The session highlighted how the role of the in-house lawyer continues to evolve. Technical legal expertise remains essential, but the lawyers who thrive are those who combine legal excellence with commercial understanding, strong communication skills, and a genuine curiosity about how businesses operate.
For lawyers considering the move in-house, the message from both speakers was clear: success depends on becoming a business adviser first and a legal adviser second.
