General Counsels United Formed to Uphold Legal Independence Amid Rising Concerns

A newly established group of general counsel, United General Counsels, is quickly gaining traction. According to Eric Whitaker, a noteworthy figure behind the organization and former general counsel at Tesla, General Counsels United is focused on resisting perceived attacks by the executive branch on lawyers and law firms. This initiative has already attracted over 500 members within less than two weeks of its inception. Whitaker, currently the chief legal officer at 10x Genomics, describes the group as nonpartisan, with the aim of fostering a platform for current and former General Counsels to collaborate on upholding the rule of law and the independence of the legal profession. For further details, [Eric Whitaker’s LinkedIn post](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ericwhitaker_gcu-gcu-activity-7325569313485004800-xOLG?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAFjsVeMBxZfAGKt8PPZ_V7BwrseBWOPP5ys) provides additional insight into the group’s mission. Additionally, General Counsels United has voiced that recent trends have led to skepticism regarding whether law firms can maintain their professional ethics and the best interests of clients versus succumbing to political pressures and short-term gains, as discussed in the [article on Law.com](https://www.law.com/corpcounsel/2025/05/07/gc-group-championing-rule-of-law-tops-500-members-just-days-after-launch/).