In the 2025 fiscal year, Joseph Valane, General Counsel and Secretary of Howard Hughes Holdings Inc., received a total compensation of $1,905,604. This package comprised a base salary of $625,000, stock awards valued at $779,631, and other compensation totaling $25,973. ([salary.com](https://www.salary.com/research/executive-compensation/howard-hughes-holdings-inc-executive-salary?utm_source=openai))
This compensation aligns with industry trends. According to Equilar’s 2025 General Counsel Pay Trends report, the median total compensation for general counsel at the largest U.S. companies rose from $2.8 million in 2020 to $3.4 million in 2024, marking a 20.5% increase. ([finance.yahoo.com](https://finance.yahoo.com/news/equilar-report-general-counsel-compensation-130000515.html?utm_source=openai))
In comparison, Jennie P. Howard, Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary at Noble Corp PLC, earned $2,650,390 in total compensation for the same fiscal year. This included a base salary of $493,750, a bonus of $482,523, and stock awards amounting to $1,632,082. ([salary.com](https://www.salary.com/research/executive-compensation/jennie-p-howard-executive-member-of-noble-corp-plc?utm_source=openai))
The compensation structure for general counsel often reflects the company’s size, industry, and financial performance. For instance, in the technology sector, general counsel compensation has seen significant increases, with legal chiefs from technology firms occupying the top five slots in the 2025 General Counsel Compensation Report. ([legal.io](https://www.legal.io/blog/5705746/2025-General-Counsel-Compensation-Tech-s-Pay-Dominance-Reaches-New-Heights?utm_source=openai))
Howard Hughes Holdings Inc., a real estate development and management company, reported a CEO compensation of $7,826,778 for David O’Reilly in 2025, indicating a 26.86% increase from the previous year. ([quiverquant.com](https://www.quiverquant.com/news/Howard%2BHughes%2BHoldings%2BInc.%2B%28%24HHH%29%2BCEO%2B2025%2BPay%2BRevealed?utm_source=openai))
Overall, the compensation for general counsel positions continues to rise, reflecting the increasing complexity and importance of the role within corporate structures.