In-house counsel do any number of different things, depending upon the company, its size, the number of lawyers, and the nature of its business.
Some in-house lawyers draft and negotiate contracts. Some oversee the securities and investor relations functions, including M&A. Some advise the HR professionals. Some protect the company’s intellectual property. Some advise on compliance with specific types of government regulations. Some advise the international trade / Customs functions. Some handle real estate matters, competition / antitrust matters, or other specialized concerns. This is far from an exhaustive list.
In general, in-house lawyers collaborate with their colleagues in the business to preserve the company’s competitive advantages and good reputation, to prevent the company from breaking the law or its own key principles, and to solve problems quickly when they arise.
In-house counsel also engage and supervise outside counsel when a problem comes up that requires specialized support or perhaps litigation.