The following are based on my experience (I was GC for a small software company) and that of most of the other GCs I have met:
- Knowledge of and interest in business law
- Likely to have been in private (law firm) practice before serving as GC
- More experience with, and greater interest in, transactions than litigation
- Interested in using the law to help the company achieve business success
- Enjoys having a close, ongoing relationship with clients (in other parts of the company)
- Likes being part of a team
- Appreciates having a life outside work (relatively few 12-hour days)
- Enjoys working without having to record time or worry about billable hours