How do you approach managing legal aspects during periods of instability or crises, and how does your legal strategy align with the broader business strategy to ensure the organisation’s resilience?

Managing legal aspects during periods of instability or crisis requires a strategic and flexible approach to ensure compliance, mitigate risks, and maintain operational continuity. Some key steps to effectively manage legal issues during such times are the following: i) establish a crisis management team, where legal experts need to be included, and the roles and responsibilities need to be clearly defined, ii) assess and prioritise risks, where risks need to be identified and prioritised bases on their potential impact on the organisation, iii) maintain compliance by monitoring legal updates and adjusting company policies, iv) provide for specific contract clauses (force majeure, renegotiation), v) have a transparent internal (employees) and external (stakeholders, customers) communication strategy, vi) learn and adapt, by conducting a review to identify lessons learned and updating company’s crisis management policies, to be better prepared for the future.

What emerging technologies do you see as having the most significant impact on the legal profession in the near future and how do you stay updated on these developments?

Emerging technologies are significantly transforming the legal profession, enhancing efficiency, accuracy, and accessibility of legal services. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) will have a very significant impact on document review, legal research and predictive analysis.

Blockchain Technology enables the creation of self-executing contracts with terms directly written into code, reducing the need for intermediaries, while at the same time provides a secure and transparent way to record transactions, which can be critical for legal evidence and compliance.

Legal Tech Platforms help efficiently in managing cases, client information and other administrative tasks.

Cybersecurity Technologies help data protection and secure communication with encrypted communication tools.

Cloud Computing enables remote access to files and helps lawyers to collaborate with colleagues from anywhere. Cloud solutions can also reduce IT infrastructure costs.

To stay current with these emerging technologies and their applications in the legal field we, as lawyers, need to have a continuous education with online courses, workshops and seminars; participate in respective professional associations and conferences; subscribe to legal tech publications and academic journals; join professional networks and online communities; establish dedicated innovation teams to explore and implement new technologies; keep monitoring the latest trends by following tech blogs, news sites, and engage with webinars and podcasts that focus on legal technology and innovation.

By leveraging these technologies and staying updated through various channels, legal professionals can enhance their practice, improve client service, and stay competitive in the rapidly evolving legal landscape.