November 24, 2025

 Jonathan Gross

 Pratik Patel

general counsel Consulting legal spend trends events law department innovation

Houston was buzzing in late October as The Houstonian played host to the Consero Energy General Counsel Forum, a gathering of the sharpest legal minds in the energy sector. This wasn’t another run-of-the-mill conference; it felt more like a forward-thinking strategy session focused on what’s next for legal leadership in an industry under pressure.

So, what is next?

The conversations were candid and compelling. Energy companies are navigating a perfect storm: tighter regulations, volatile markets, and escalating cybersecurity threats. In this environment, the role of General Counsel is evolving fast. They’re no longer just legal advisors; they’re architects of resilience and catalysts for growth. If there was one clear takeaway, it’s that the GC role has never been more critical or more complex.

From Legal Advisor to Business Strategist

One theme dominated the discussions: GCs are stepping into the boardroom as business strategists. They’re shaping investment decisions, guiding innovation, and managing risk at scale. It’s no longer enough to stay in the ‘legal lane’. The expectation is to deliver measurable business value.

A standout example came from the session ‘Building Business Value Through Legal and Corporate Strategic Partnership’, where one GC shared how aligning legal risk frameworks with corporate growth objectives helped secure financing for a major infrastructure project. That move mitigated risk, unlocked profitability, and positioned legal as a driver of strategic success.

AI: From Buzzword to Business Tool

Technology was another hot topic, and yes, AI took the center stage, but not just as a buzzword. It’s solving real problems. Consider this: reviewing two million documents manually could cost US$4M and take 20 weeks. AI can do it in two weeks, with near-perfect accuracy, at a fraction of the cost. Those numbers prove that AI isn’t just hype; it’s transforming the industry.

And AI doesn’t stop at document review. It now powers Contracts Lifecycle Management. Energy GCs are using AI to automate M&A due diligence and regulatory filings, cutting turnaround times from months to weeks while reducing compliance risk. As a result, legal teams are freeing up time to focus on what matters most: strategic negotiations and advising the C-suite.

Resilience as a Business Metric

Crisis readiness was another recurring theme. Nearly four years after Winter Storm Uri, litigation still ripples through the industry. Legal teams are building playbooks for natural disasters, cyberattacks, and regulatory shocks because resilience is a business metric now. With permitting reforms and IRA updates reshaping project timelines, staying ahead of regulatory shifts is now a competitive advantage.

Managing Legal Spend: A Strategic Lever

Our KnowledgeBridge session, ‘Managing Legal Spend in the Era of $3,000/hr Lawyers,’ sparked lively debate. We discussed how law departments can track and structure spend to demonstrate business value, identify hidden costs, and rebalance budgets to fund initiatives that have the greatest business impact.

Here’s the big insight: legal spend is more than a series of line-items. It’s a lever. Managed strategically, it unlocks resources for innovation and growth. By applying data analytics and benchmarking, GCs can shift dollars from low-value tasks to high-impact initiatives like ESG compliance and digital transformation. That’s how legal evolves from being a cost centre to a growth enabler.

What’s Next for Energy GCs?

• Rebalance spend to prioritise strategic work
• Use AI for the heavy lifting so your team can focus on judgment and strategy
• Build resilience before the next crisis hits
• Stay ahead of regulatory changes to avoid costly delays

The Consero Energy Counsel Forum offered a clear window into the future of legal leadership in energy. At Elevate, we help legal teams turn these challenges into opportunities through smarter spend management, AI-assisted solutions, and operational excellence.

Ready to move from defense to offense? Let’s build the future together.

Read more about our Consero Oil & Gas Takeaways