General Counsel Pay Hits Five-Year High at $2.6 Million

Pay packages for public companies’ top lawyers hit a five-year high last year as their role expands beyond the realm of lawsuits and compliance.

Median compensation for general counsel of the 500 largest-revenue companies in U.S. stock markets reached $2.6 million in 2018, a 7.4% increase since 2014, according to an Oct. 1 analysis by data firm Equilar and executive search firm BarkerGilmore.

General counsel have traditionally overseen a company’s litigation and legal compliance. Their increased pay reflects added responsibilities in setting corporate strategy and managing risks, the report said.

“The report brings to light the expanding role of the ...