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? 

The first critical step is gaining a comprehensive understanding of the situation. This involves looking beyond the legal aspects to consider the broader impact on the business, including reputational risk.  By ensuring that the legal team has visibility into all facets of the crisis, we are better positioned to advise on risks and opportunities that may not be immediately apparent.

Secondly, no single department can manage a crisis in isolation. Creating a cross-functional internal task force that brings together key stakeholders from legal, operations, finance, and other relevant departments is essential. This integrated approach ensures that decisions are made with the full spectrum of business implications in mind, reducing the risk of silos and misalignment.  Forming an external task force, comprising specialised external legal counsel and other subject matter experts is equally important. These external resources provide not only additional bandwidth but also critical expertise and an objective perspective.

Thirdly, a key part of an efficient strategy is establishing clear and transparent lines of communication between all stakeholders, both internal and external.  This includes regular updates, well-defined roles and responsibilities, and mechanisms to escalate urgent matters. Throughout the process, it’s essential to keep top management fully informed of the latest developments and to actively seek their guidance when necessary.

In conclusion, legal strategy in times of crisis cannot exist in a vacuum.