How much do general counsels make in the Fortune 500?

Asked by: Branson Witting Sr.  |  Last update: March 29, 2025
Score: 4.4/5 (43 votes)

Overall Compensation Overview: New numbers reveal the average base salary for General Counsels at Fortune 500 companies to be $583,250 and total all-in compensation to average $3,594,449 (the latter figure aggregates base salary, stock options, and bonuses, among others).

Is General Counsel prestigious?

General counsel positions are highly sought-after and involve a lot of responsibility, so those with the right mix of attributes generally land the best positions first. These personality traits include: Sound judgment and the ability to evaluate options fairly. Leadership and a visionary quality.

How much does General Counsel at Marriott make?

Marriott International General Counsel Rena Reiss received $4.7 million in compensation in 2023, the first time the lodging giant has provided Reiss' pay information since she took the role in 2017.

How much does MGM General Counsel get paid?

The estimated total pay range for a Legal Counsel at MGM Resorts International is $119K–$207K per year, which includes base salary and additional pay.

Is General Counsel higher than VP?

The VP of Legal often reports directly to the Chief Legal Officer (CLO) or General Counsel (GC). In some organizations, these titles may be used interchangeably, depending on the structure and needs of the business. In organizations without a CLO or GC, the VP of Legal may serve as the top legal executive.

What It Takes for Women to Become Fortune 500 GCs

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Is General Counsel C level?

It is popular to use the C-suite type designations - partly to show the GC is a peer of the CFO, CIO, etc. Chief Legal Officer (CLO) is one of many possible appellations that might apply to a General Counsel.

What is the highest title for a lawyer?

Law Firm Partners

The pinnacle of the law firm hierarchy is the partners of the firm. Law firm partners play a significant role in law firm management and business. Attorneys who are seasoned not only possess extensive legal knowledge. But also play a major role in a firm's business or capital.

How much does a fortune 500 General Counsel make?

The report, based on an analysis of the Equilar 500—the 500 largest U.S. companies by revenue—reveals that the median total compensation for General Counsel during the five-year period grew to $3.3 million in 2023, from $2.6 million in 2019.

How much does Apollo General Counsel make?

The average General Counsel base salary at Apollo Global Management is $236K per year.

How much does a general counsel make at McKinsey?

Average McKinsey & Company Associate General Counsel yearly pay in the United States is approximately $261,236, which is 79% above the national average. Salary information comes from 1 data point collected directly from employees, users, and past and present job advertisements on Indeed in the past 24 months.

What is the average age of general counsel?

The typical GC is male, between 35 and 54 years old, probably attended Harvard Law, and is most likely based in California or New York. While GC compensation varies widely, the average, including bonuses, is $408,077.

How much does Carlyle General Counsel make?

NEW: The Carlyle Group's longtime global general counsel Jeffrey Ferguson earned more than $8.7 million last year, according to a securities filing. The Carlyle Group Inc.'s longtime global general counsel Jeffrey Ferguson earned more than $8.7 million last year, according to a securities filing.

How many hours do general counsels work?

While in-house counsel with this level of experience earns less than their law firm counterparts, they tend to work slightly fewer hours. On average, firm lawyers work 54.8 hours per week, while in-house counsel works 47.2 hours per week.

Who is the highest paid GCs?

The highest paid GC in the S&P 500 last year was Kent Walker at Alphabet, who received total compensation of $27.3 million, followed by Apple's Kate Adams ($26.9 million), Blackstone's John Finley ($17.9 million), Booking Holdings' Peter Millones ($15.5 million) and Broadcom's Mark Brazeal ($15.4 million).

How hard is it to be a general counsel?

First, you must decide whether you are truly interested in the job. Being “the boss” sounds good, but being general counsel is a tough job and involves a lot of long hours — and a lot of pressure. You must make critical decisions with little time and sparse facts.

Is General Counsel a high position?

In many organizations, the GC reports directly to the CEO and is a member of the company's senior leadership team. According to a study by LawGeex and the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC), 9 out of 10 companies with 501 to over 1000 employees have a GC.

How much does General Counsel make at Microsoft?

The average Microsoft Corporate Counsel earns $285,000 annually, which includes a base salary of $220,000 with a $65,000 bonus. This total compensation is $106,734 more than the US average for a Corporate Counsel.

How can a lawyer make 500k a year?

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Are there lawyers who make millions?

Yes, as shown by the top-earning professionals in the legal field, it's possible to make over $1 million annually. However, you need to explore other ways to generate profits. While a lawyer's income is anything but small, your salary alone — especially if you're a non-partner — won't be enough to hit your target.

Who is the most paid lawyers?

  • Intellectual Property (IP) Lawyer. One reason IP lawyers are some of the highest-paid types of lawyers is that they require very specialized knowledge in distinct fields. ...
  • Tax Attorneys. Tax codes are complex. ...
  • Trial Attorney. ...
  • Medical Lawyer. ...
  • Patent Attorney. ...
  • Corporate Lawyer. ...
  • Real Estate Lawyer. ...
  • Family Lawyer.

What type of lawyer has the highest salary?

The highest-paid lawyers typically specialize in fields such as corporate law, intellectual property, tax law, medical malpractice, and entertainment law. These areas command higher salaries due to the complexity, demand, and financial stakes involved.

Should I put JD after my name on my resume?

Style: Be consistent within categories and abbreviations: if one position title is in bold caps, put all position titles in bold caps or if you use J.D. instead of Juris Doctor (Do NOT use “Juris Doctorate”), use B.A., M.B.A. or Ph. D. Italics are used for degree designations, such as magna cum laude.

How much do big name lawyers make?

However, pay can vary widely based on location, experience, and specialization, so some will earn more and some will earn less. For example, a new public defender can expect to earn far less. The bottom 10% of lawyers make $61,400 per year while the top earners make more than $208,000 per year.