Governance training for General Counsel and Heads of Legal

The elite performance programme for legal leaders ready to own governance.

Are you being asked to take on the Company Secretary role in addition to your legal role? Do you feel overwhelmed and uncertain as to what this new role actually means in practice? Does it feel like you’re being handed a whole new job but with none of the prep. We know you’ve got the legal skills but now we can help you get serious about governance too.

The elite performance programme for legal leaders ready to own governance.

You’ve already proven yourself as a legal leader. Now you’re being asked to take on governance…possibly with little notice and even less guidance.

You’re not alone. And you don’t need to wing it.

Round Governance’s General Counsel to Company Secretary elite performance programme is designed specifically for GCs and Heads of Legal in medium to large private and public sector businesses as well as charities. It’s for those of you who’ve been handed company secretarial responsibility and know it’s too important to treat as an afterthought.

This isn’t a quick work-around. Our programme is about mastering a key, high-trust role that demands fluency in governance, board dynamics, risk and much more!

You know you’re stepping into another role that influences organisational decision making so let’s make sure you’re ready.

What makes this programme different?

It’s built by people who’ve done the job.

Every session is led by experienced Chartered Secretaries and qualified Solicitors who’ve advised boards, held the post, developed years of expertise and taught governance at MSc level.

It’s grounded in real work.

This isn’t about theory for theory’s sake. You’ll learn how governance actually functions—what works, what doesn’t and how to lead from within it.

It’s designed for transition.

We know you’re not starting from zero. We build on your legal leadership to help you develop the Company Secretary mindset and capability.

The programme

Part one: Step into governance with structure

A five-session training series delivered online in two-hour blocks. Each step is designed to follow on from the previous session so you can clearly piece the learning together.

1. Step one: Core Company Secretarial responsibilities

What the role really involves. Understand the remit, key duties, and legal framework of the Co Sec role. Includes statutory and regulatory compliance, Board support, minute taking, and relationships with the Chair and Directors. 

2. Step two: Corporate governance principles and purpose

Explore governance codes, corporate culture, and the ethical frameworks that underpin sound decision-making.

3. Step three: Boards and Directors

Gain practical knowledge on Board composition, Director duties, and how the Board functions as a whole. This section also includes a review of board portals.

4. Step four: Board and organisational effectiveness

Learn how to contribute to more effective meetings, what makes a good Board great and examples of governance failures. Understand how to influence and manage key relationships within executive colleagues and non-executive directors.

5. Step five: Risk governance, risk management and internal control

Understand the critical role of governance in managing strategic risk and how to align risk with Board priorities and internal controls.

Part two: Tools you’ll actually use

We’re making this about more than training. You’ll leave with documents and frameworks that we’ve developed and regularly refine, including:

· A 200+ line governance framework template that you can use to create your own

· A board meeting matrix for organising board and committee papers

· A skills and diversity matrix to support board composition

· A stakeholder analysis tool to meet your Companies Act 2006 duties

Part three: Expert access for when it counts

After completing the programme, you’ll be able to access our governance experts for up to two hours per month for a year. Ask questions, bounce ideas around, and get calm, experienced input when you need it most. We know you might just need someone to have a chat with and to feel safe and confident to do so.

What you’ll gain when you invest

· A complete understanding of Company Secretary responsibilities

· Tools you’ll reuse again and again

· Strategies to work confidently with boards and non-execs

· A support team behind you as you lead your organisation's governance

· The credibility to not just do the job but to shape it

The General Counsel to Company Secretary programme is elite and we mean it

Spaces are limited. Not because we’re using it as a sales tactic but because learning at this level requires time and attention. We cap places so we can deliver on our promises and provide an elite service. 

Prices

We’ve thought long and hard about this because we believe in fair value and transparency which is why we’re launching at: £5,500 plus VAT.

That’s everything, all the training, all the years and years of our experience that goes into developing our knowledge and creating our documents. And then—two hours of our consulting per month for a year.

No hidden fees. No surprises.

Here’s what they say

“I attended a one-to-one coaching programme designed to support the transition from General Counsel to Company Secretary. The provider was incredibly knowledgeable and reassuring throughout. I left each session with practical insights that I was able to apply immediately and hit the ground running with confidence in my evolving role.” Group General Counsel and Company Secretary, Large private company – preparing for IPO.

If you're serious about expanding your role, shaping governance and guiding your organisation at the highest level, this is your next move. 