Conclusion: The Untapped Reservoir.

Boardrooms have created a structural blind spot, reinforced by long‑held biases and outdated assumptions that lawyers are all about the technicals, not experiences professionals who possess a uniquely set of capabilities and experiences suited to the boardroom.

Yet the solution is within reach. Lawyers must broaden their experience and reframe their identity. Headhunters must challenge their own filters. Chairs must be willing to “take a punt,” as they do on so many others. And companies must invest earlier in preparing legal leaders for board life.

For those willing to change, the opportunity is significant. As one experienced NED observed, “The best lawyers ask the questions no one else dares to ask.” And at a time when corporate failures often stem not from numbers but from governance, ethics, information flow, culture or risk, those questions are precisely the ones boards most need to hear.

Call to action

This question of “Why Aren’t More Lawyers Non-Executive Directors, And What Can We Do About It?” will be the central theme of our BAFTA Breakfast event on 15th September this year, where we will bring together senior leaders, chairs and general counsel to examine why this gap persists and what practical steps can finally close it. Please look out for an invitation sometime in the Spring.