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CCCA_V4No4_Dept-Ethics-FIN.qxd:CCCA_V1No2_Dept-CourtLeg-V1.qxd 10/28/10 11:21 AM Page 12 Ethics Practise what you preach Debating whether companies should split the roles of the general counsel and the chief compliance officer misses the point about effective compliance. By Christa C.Wessel n many companies, the general counsel also acts as the Ichief compliance officer. But ethically and practically speaking, should the same person occupy this dual role? The issue has received considerable attention recently with renewed calls by critics to separate the two functions. GCs, the argument goes,cannot be both ethics and legal adviser because the two roles are inherently at odds with one another. Suppose, for VEER.COM example, general counsel has given a green light, persuaded that a ).3/,6%.#9!$6)3/23 PROVIDINGINNOVATIVELEGALSOLUTIONS TOCRITICALFINANCIALPROBLEMS 0HILIPPE,ALONDE #ALGARY/FFICE PLALONDE BROWNLEELAWCOM WWWLITIGATIONLAWBLOGCA $AN0ESKETT %DMONTON/FFICE DPESKETT BROWNLEELAWCOM WWWBROWNLEELAWCOM 12 CCCA Canadian Corporate Counsel Association WINTER 2010