BarkerGilmore LLC has released this year’s private equity portfolio company general counsel (GC) compensation report, which seeks to address the shifting influence of GCs in portfolio companies and the gap between strategic contribution and financial recognition.
According to BarkerGilmore’s media release, the 2025 report’s insights reflected its survey of hundreds of in-house legal leaders across portfolio companies.
The survey revealed that 64 percent of GCs reported consistent pursuit of and respect for their perspectives on business matters. BarkerGilmore said this figure shows how GCs have evolved from legal advisors to enterprise strategists.
“General Counsel are now among the most influential voices in the C-suite, with responsibilities extending far beyond traditional legal oversight,” said John Gilmore, BarkerGilmore managing partner, in the media release. “Yet compensation may not always reflect this expanded role, a gap that presents retention risk for portfolio companies operating in increasingly complex environments.”
Women GCs surveyed reported three percent higher cash compensation (US$400,000) than their male counterparts (US$388,000). BarkerGilmore called this “a promising reversal of a longstanding gender pay gap.” However, it acknowledged the remaining broader equity issues.
The survey showed that the following industries reported the highest median base salaries: life science at US$362,500; energy at US$350,000; and financial services at US$325,000.
Survey insights
According to BarkerGilmore, industries experienced generally modest salary increases this year. The survey found that:
- The all-industry average rose 1.8 percent
- The following industries showed the biggest increases: energy (three percent), technology (2.6 percent), and life sciences (2.5 percent)
- The consumer (one percent) and healthcare (1.1 percent) sectors saw minimal growth
- The financial, industrial, and non-profit sectors reported no median salary increase
The report revealed that actual bonuses last year fell short of target bonuses across almost all industries. The survey determined that:
- The financial sector showed the biggest gap, with an average actual bonus of US$38,875, compared with the US$187,000 target
- Healthcare had a much smaller gap, with an average actual bonus of US$100,000, compared with the US$127,750 target
- Life sciences reported an average actual bonus of US$130,500, compared with the US$136,000 target
- The non-profit sector saw an average actual bonus of US$125,000, compared with the US$125,500 target
The survey revealed that, among GCs surveyed:
- 58 percent said they were secure in their current roles
- 42 percent had job stability concerns
- 60 percent had plans to pursue a new job in 2025
BarkerGilmore shared that the survey respondents’ reasons for considering a move included:
- better compensation and benefits (53 percent)
- a wish for new challenges (14 percent)
- cultural misalignment (12 percent)
- an absence of career growth (six percent)