From GC to Growth Catalyst: How Simon Swain Turns Legal into Commercial Leadership

| 23 Feb 2026 | 9:00 am

James Lewindon

Our 2025 white paper posed the question, “Why are lawyers underrepresented in CEO roles?” The response to the publication was so overwhelmingly positive that the team decided to continue the conversation. We launched an interview series with Heads of Legal and General Counsel to explore what it truly takes to step out of one’s comfort zone and progress up the in-house career ladder. Although these legal leaders offered a wide range of perspectives, common themes emerged throughout their stories: pushing past fear and remaining open to the new and unknown.

In this latest interview in our in-house legal series, we’re joined by Simon Swain, Group Legal Director at Advanced Medical Solutions (AMS).

SImon Swain

Group Legal Director, Advanced Medical Solutions

You need to be really proactive in seeking out non-legal experiences even if initially it’s largely a chance for you to listen and absorb rather than necessarily contributing.

Moving into nontraditional responsibilities, Simon confronted two familiar hurdles: identity drift (not being pigeonholed as “just legal”) and the confidence gap around financial literacy and broader business ownership. He notes the risk of lawyers defaulting back to compliance thinking when taking on wider mandates, which can blunt their impact in commercial leadership roles. To mitigate this, he built credibility through M&A and transformation delivery, chaired cross functional committees, and deliberately learned to speak finance, encouraging his team to do the same via internal training and close partnership with finance.

Simon also stresses proactive exposure: spend time on the shop floor, visit factories and depots, listen to frustrations, and connect dots between functions because legal’s network uniquely positions it to orchestrate change. Succession planning is vital: if a GC’s role broadens, design the backfill so the business doesn’t inherit gaps. Ultimately, Simon’s advice to UK inhouse leaders is simple and actionable. Volunteer for nonlegal projects, seek board facing experiences (e.g., JV commissions or NED roles), master the numbers, and embrace collaborative management to unlock genuine strategic impact.

The GC Series Wrap-Up Event: General Counsel Horizons

To celebrate the conclusion of our GC Series, we would like you to join us for an exclusive evening event out our Crown Place London office.

Where? Pinsent Masons, 30 Crown Place, Earl Street, London, EC2A 4ES
When? Thursday 19 March @ 6pm

Spaces are limited; click below for more details and to register your interest.

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From GC to Growth Catalyst: How Simon Swain Turns Legal into Commercial Leadership

The GC Series Wrap-Up Event: General Counsel Horizons

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