Representing more than half of the Fortune 500 companies headquartered in the state as well as other prominent companies spanning across diverse industries, the Forum has established three prominent chapter networking communities where local and state-wide events are hosted each year.

In-house innovation comes from diverse sources, and the most direct path to solving the problems in-house leadership faces every day is through collaboration with fellow innovators. Forum members are thought leaders who understand the power of collaboration.

The Forum’s founders designed the organization to be a partnership between its in-house members and legal service providers known as underwriters. Unlike similar organizations, only general counsel and senior managing counsel with significant leadership and management responsibilities in a corporation, non-profit organization or government agency are eligible for membership. Underwriters are principally law firms and other legal service and product providers whose annual contributions provide them certain benefits and access while allowing the Forum to maintain low annual member dues. 

This strategic partnering between in-house leadership and valued underwriters and sponsors fuels the Forum’s mission to improve the professional lives and relationships of its members. This is the power of the Forum.

To meet Forum goals, networking and educational events are hosted regularly in chapter cities. Throughout the year, chapters engage in advanced dialogues on current legal topics at informal Roundtable Lunches and Forum Focus Series Sessions. During each chapter’s Quarterly Programs, attendees address crucial best-practice issues. Members also develop lasting professional relationships at social functions like After Hours events, women’s events, holiday receptions, and other special events. 

The Forum also hosts a number of state-wide annual events. In the spring, Forum members and other legal industry leaders participate in a two-session Leadership Institute over 6 days designed by general counsel which provides attendees with a unique leadership and financial management program presented in association with the SMU Cox School of Business. Each fall, members attend a two-day Annual Conference with a series of short, dynamic discussions from industry leaders which is included in in-house membership. TGCF also honors distinguished in-house leadership for their dedication to excellence and ethics at two annual awards dinners: Magna Stella Awards Dinner and DFW Dedman Award Dinner.