Christine Garrison, general counsel and secretary at Farmland Partners (NYSE: FPI), participated in a video interview during Nareit’s REITwise: 2024 Law, Accounting & Finance Conference held March 19-21 in Hollywood, Fla.
Garrison highlighted the increasing demands placed on general counsel, stressing the need to do more with less in today's corporate landscape and the added pressure on GCs to manage a broad array of compliance issues. She also underscored the expanding role of GCs in understanding business operations, including cybersecurity measures and environmental impacts, which necessitates broader experience and expertise.
“Companies are looking for more experience and broader experience for general counsels,” indicating a trend towards seeking external candidates for enhanced proficiency, she said.
Addressing potential future challenges, Garrison warned about the emergence of “cyber washing litigation” akin to greenwashing suits in the realm of cybersecurity reporting. She advises companies to prudently craft cybersecurity policies to mitigate legal risks.