Every ICPS tier is assessed against the same nine core competencies – a consistent yardstick applied at greater depth as counsel move up the tiers.
Figure: The nine core ICPS competencies. Cross-Border Expertise applies at the regional accreditation layer only.
| Competency | What It Covers |
| Legal & Regulatory Expertise | Knowledge of relevant laws, regulation and compliance, including cross-border frameworks |
| Strategic Business Acumen | Aligning legal strategy with business goals and commercial risk |
| Governance & Risk Management | Advising on governance, controls and enterprise risk across jurisdictions |
| Ethics & Professionalism | Integrity, independence, confidentiality and accountability |
| Communication & Engagement | Influencing stakeholders and building trust, including cross-border |
| Leadership & Management | Leading and mentoring legal teams (Senior Legal Counsel tier onward) |
| Flexibility & Adaptability | Navigating legal, business and regulatory change. |
| Innovation & Digital Fluency | Using legal tech and data to drive efficiency |
| Cross-Border Expertise | Managing matters across multiple jurisdictions (regional layer) |
Listed-company Specialist Pathway
Counsel supporting publicly listed or listing-ready companies can add a specialist endorsement covering eight further areas, on top of the core nine: disclosure controls, securities/listing-rule compliance, board and audit committee advisory, financial reporting and investor relations, ESG reporting governance, investor-facing communications, crisis and investigations response, and cross-border listed-issuer compliance.