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After 18 years as General Counsel at MNP, Charmaine Toms, K.C. knows how to speak truth to power. Three weeks in, she told her then-CEO his plan was “all wrong” — and still landed a seat at the exec table. She sat down with Zak Biggs to talk trust, budgets, and what comes next.

ZB: What move helped you earn your seat at the table?

CT: Three weeks in, I walked into the then-CEO’s office and said, “That whiteboard plan you drew for Legal is all wrong.” It was a bold move, but I trusted my legal knowledge and my belief that the business needed something different, which I presented. That moment set the tone – that I’d speak hard truths, but always with a solution.

ZB: What do you think is the key to a good GC/CEO relationship?

CT: Trust, hands down. You need to know each other as people, not just titles. Go for lunch, ask about their family, and remember their kids’ names. Connection beyond the work builds the trust you need to tell hard truths and know you have each other’s backs.

ZB: What’s your take on GCs reporting to the CFO instead of the CEO?

CT: If the GC doesn’t report to the CEO, that’s a red flag for me. It tells me Legal isn’t seen as strategic and puts them a step behind the real decision-making. To be effective, I think you need a direct line to the CEO, full stop.

ZB: What advice do you have on getting legal budget approval?

CT: Start by showing you run a tight ship. I was careful with every dollar — whether it was meal expenses or managing external counsel. I always stayed in the trenches, questioned the legal bills, and kept scope in check. That built trust with the CEO and CFO. So when I asked for more budget or a new hire, they knew I wasn’t padding — I was planning. Most years, the question was “Are you sure that’s enough?”

ZB: You chose to retire earlier than most lawyers — why and what’s next?

CT: After an amazing career, I wanted to step aside at the right time and make space for the next generation. I am loving my freedom, but am still connected to the legal world and trying to help leave the profession better than I found it.

I’m mentoring, going for coffees, and chairing the Future of Law Awards — which I’m proud to be part of, because in-house lawyers deserve a lot more recognition than they currently get. I can’t wait to see that change, be part of the Awards and attend the Future of Law Summit later this month!

Connect with Charmaine on LinkedIn and register for the Future of Law Summit here .