Survey reveals rising risks for organisations

Global consulting firm AlixPartners has released the headline results from its 2026 U.S. Risk Survey, revealing that U.S. organizations are grappling with a surge in corporate litigation risk, financial crime exposure, challenges related to AI regulations, and cybersecurity threats. The survey's findings are based on responses from 500 senior executives focused on legal, compliance, and risk functions, who provided insights into the enterprise risks that will dominate the landscape in the coming years. "Amid intensifying cyber and geopolitical pressures, the risk environment is evolving at a pace many organizations are struggling to keep up with," the firm stated.

Among the key takeaways, 63% of executives anticipate an increase in corporate disputes, driven by economic uncertainty and upheaval triggered by AI advancements. Meanwhile, eight in ten respondents believe that the development of federal AI policy represents a strategic risk to their compliance efforts, particularly given the increasingly fragmented regulatory environment. Cybersecurity emerged as the foremost concern, with 65% of respondents citing it as the most alarming risk over the next 12 months; however, less than half, at 48%, claimed to be "very prepared" to tackle cyber threats, despite an escalation of attacks.

Other notable concerns include financial crime, where only 48% of respondents feel adequately prepared, with confidence in risk-detection technologies falling by 20% year-on-year. The rapid adoption of AI also poses challenges; while nearly half the organisations lack essential governance structures, the perception of AI-driven attacks as a significant cybersecurity risk has doubled in a year, rising from 17% to 34%. In data privacy, 58% of respondents identified it as a major risk, yet only half are taking steps to enhance measures like data encryption.

The cryptocurrency landscape is equally precarious, as 59% of organisations are either employing or testing crypto for transactions without implementing necessary safeguards, with fewer than half having established procedures for escalation and third-party risk assessments. Furthermore, with rising geopolitical tensions, only 35% feel adequately prepared for potential changes in sanctions, a decrease from 44% in 2025.

As Sean Dowd, Partner and Managing Director at AlixPartners, emphasised, "As risks continue to evolve, organizations benefit from taking a clear view of where they may be exposed and reinforcing their defenses." This survey not only signals the urgent need for U.S. organisations to enhance their risk management approaches but also underscores the critical importance of equipping legal, risk, and compliance professionals with the insights necessary to navigate the complexities of an increasingly uncertain business landscape.