Five Legal Risks Every CEO Should Be Managing Right Now

The legal risks facing companies in 2026 present a shifting, and in some ways unexpected, focus for CEOs.

Overall dispute volumes are plateauing—but the cases that do go to trial are producing much higher verdicts. Regulatory actions have shifted with state regulators filling enforcement gaps left by federal agencies pulling back. Reverse discrimination claims are rising, reshaping how companies need to think about their diversity programs and hiring practices. And the AI tools companies adopted to drive efficiency are generating a new category of liability.

In January, Norton Rose Fulbright released its annual Litigation Trends Survey, which revealed that only 29 percent of in-house legal leaders felt "very prepared" for what was coming in 2026—down from 46 percent just a year ago. One-third of the way through 2026, it seems that in-house leaders' consternation may have been well founded, as 2026 has already demonstrated the unpredictability in where, what and how much litigation companies face.

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