What are the most significant cases or transactions that you have been involved in over the past year?

The Legal Team at JERA Global Markets actively identifies legal risks and opportunities associated with the Company’s trading (and ancillary) activities. Apart from drafting, reviewing legal documentation relating to day-to-day trading activities as well as financial documentation, the team oversees, designs and support governance and compliance structures in response to political, economic and regulatory changes. In addition, members of the team also undertake micro projects ranging from offtakes, financing agreements and dispute management.

Based on your experience, what is the key to collaborating successfully with business partners?

I am a strong supporter of “nemawashi”, i.e. the team builds consensus and support for a proposed change through early engagement with people who may be affected by the change. The approach builds trust and increase communication between Legal and our stakeholders and often stakeholders will consult Legal early allowing us to influence the direction of travel.

Which political, economic or regulatory changes have impacted your work the most in the past year?

The Russia/Ukraine conflict which gave rise to a slew of changes to the sanctions landscape had a significant impact in the trading environment. It is no mean feat navigating the various complex sanctions regimes, and to translation how sanctions risks affect business operations and our licence to operate.