Ken Banta Explores the Expanding Leadership Role of Today’s General Counsel

Ken Banta, Founder and CEO of The Vanguard Network, has released a new Substack article titled “Leadership from the Legal Seat: Becoming the Partner Your CEO Didn’t Know They Needed,” published November 12, 2025.

In the article, Banta examines how the role of the General Counsel has evolved far beyond legal advice. Drawing on candid discussions from Vanguard Network exchanges with senior in-house counsel, he highlights how today’s most effective GCs act as strategic partners, enterprise connectors, and trusted advisors to CEOs and boards.

The piece explores how perception shifts through presence, why influence is earned by engaging early in business decisions, and how GCs can lead their teams with empathy, clarity, and purpose. Banta argues that high-performance leadership from the legal seat is defined not by technical mastery alone, but by the ability to build trust, anticipate risk, and guide organizations through uncertainty.

The article offers practical insight for General Counsels seeking to elevate their impact and redefine how legal leadership creates enterprise value.

To read the full article on Substack, click here.

About The Vanguard Network

The Vanguard Network is a leadership community and advisory platform that helps senior executives sharpen foresight, strengthen performance, and achieve impact. Through forums, exchanges, and programs, Vanguard convenes leaders across industries to share challenges and solutions in a confidential, collaborative setting.