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?

During unstable or crisis periods, managing legal aspects becomes critical for organisational resilience. My approach is to act pre-emptively. There are legal challenges that can be overcome by incorporating diverse legal concerns into our policies and procedures. More specifically, this includes ensuring our contracts with customers and vendors are clear and comprehensive, specifying terms, conditions, and obligations, while addressing licensing, warranties, and limitations of liability, as well as alternative dispute resolution mechanisms such as arbitration or mediation.

Additionally, I focus on risk assessment and mitigation by identifying potential legal risks specific to our industry, products, and services. I develop relevant policies to minimise exposure, such as a Data Privacy Policy, and ensure our policies and procedures are up to date by reviewing them at least annually. Compliance with regulations is also paramount; therefore, I stay informed about industry-specific regulations, including data protection and export controls, and ensure compliance with relevant laws, such as GDPR and CCPA. Furthermore, I advocate for employee training to educate staff about the group’s operations and risk assessment mechanisms.

Crises in today’s business world are inevitable. Maintaining business continuity, informed decision-making, and effective communication are essential. When a crisis occurs, timely, honest, and comprehensive responses are key to limiting damage and preserving customer trust. Integrating legal considerations into company operations helps organisations navigate uncertainty and safeguard their interests. Each crisis presents an opportunity for growth and learning. After resolving legal matters, I consistently engage in reflection, examining what went wrong, how it was resolved, and identifying areas for improvement.

To ensure alignment with the broader business strategy, I maintain constant and consistent communication across all departments and employee levels within the group. Transparency and timely information flow are critical for organisational resilience. My experience has shown that addressing issues early allows for efficient resolution before they escalate.