Only 7% of Companies Achieve Full Compliance as Global Expansion Increases Legal Complexity

47% of general counsels say beneficial ownership rules pose the biggest risks to legal operations44% lack confidence in meeting cross-border data security requirements

As businesses accelerate their global expansion in 2026, compliance fails to keep pace. In fact, only 7% of organizations report full compliance across their global entities, according to a new study by CSC, the leading provider of global business administration and compliance solutions.

CSC surveyed 350 general counsel (GCs) and senior legal professionals across Europe, North America, and Asia Pacific to examine how their teams navigate international expansion, regulatory pressure, and the increasing adoption of artificial intelligence (AI).¹ The findings appear in CSC’s latest report, General Counsel Barometer 2026: From Complexity to Control.

Most organizations report partial compliance, with over half (53%) estimating they are 50–75% compliant, and a further 35% placing themselves between 76%–99%. This leaves just 7% of organizations reporting full compliance across all global entities.

GCs also report low confidence in addressing ongoing demands amid global expansion. More than two in five (44%) say they aren’t confident in meeting data security requirements across jurisdictions. Meanwhile, 37% report challenges in delivering consistent service globally, reflecting the increasing complexity of the regulatory environment. In addition, 47% cite demands such as ultimate beneficial ownership as the biggest risk to legal operations in 2026.

“The pace of regulatory change is accelerating globally, with new frameworks emerging across multiple jurisdictions that increasingly overlap,” said Ian McConnel, chief legal officer at CSC. “From regulations like DORA [Digital Operational Resilience Act] and evolving AI frameworks to the expansion of beneficial ownership requirements, legal teams are being asked to manage growing complexity across every aspect of the business. That makes it significantly harder to maintain momentum and control.”

In response, upgrading technology and automation remains the top objective for legal teams in 2026, alongside consolidating service providers and improving data transparency. These responses signal a shift toward more centralized and consistent approaches to managing global entities.

Many are also adopting AI to support compliance and entity management, with 35% already using it and a further 26% piloting tools. However, they express concerns around the accuracy and reliability of AI-driven insights. Factors that slow the wider uptake of AI include the need for organized, high-quality data, the use of legacy systems, and regulatory uncertainty.

As complexity grows, organizations increasingly rely on external partners to maintain compliance across jurisdictions. More than four-in-five (83%) respondents use multiple corporate service providers to meet differing country requirements, underlining the challenges of managing global operations across fragmented networks.

“For a long time, legal and compliance teams have focused on technology-driven transformation, but there is growing recognition that technology alone is not enough,” said Thijs van Ingen, global market leader at CSC. “The priority now is regaining control by improving data quality, creating a single source of truth, and finding the right balance between in-house teams and external partners. Organizations that get this right will be better positioned to manage compliance and support growth.”

With compliance challenges growing more multifaceted, organizations seek more integrated approaches to managing global regulatory obligations. CSC supports organizations with global entity management and compliance by combining local expertise, centralized data, and award-winning technology—giving legal teams a single, reliable view of their entities and the control they need to manage risk and support business growth across jurisdictions.

To download a copy of CSC’s General Counsel Barometer 2026: From Complexity to Control report, please visit https://www.cscglobal.com/service/campaigns/general-counsel-barometer-report-2026/

About CSC

CSC is the trusted partner of choice for more than 90% of the Fortune 500®, more than 90% of the 100 Best Global Brands (Interbrand®), and more than 75% of the PEI 300. We are the world’s leading provider of global business administration and compliance solutions, specialized administration services to alternative asset managers across a range of fund strategies, transactions involving capital markets participants in both public and private markets, domain name system management, digital brand and fraud protection, and corporate tax software solutions. Founded in 1899 and headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, USA, CSC has been privately held and professionally managed for more than 125 years. CSC has office locations and capabilities in more than 140 jurisdictions across Europe, the Americas, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East. We are a global company capable of doing business wherever our clients are—and we accomplish that by employing experts in every business we serve. We are the business behind business®. Learn more at cscglobal.com.

¹CSC, in partnership with Pure Profile, surveyed 350 general counsels and legal compliance officers in the Americas, Europe including U.K., and Asia Pacific. Survey respondents were drawn from a range of industry sectors, including communications, banking and financial services, healthcare, insurance, law, and real estate.

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