How do you feel the pandemic has changed the world of work for in-house counsel and the function of the general counsel?

The pandemic has totally shifted the way people interact within business. That entire process has massively changed. Previous barriers between divisions or teams within a company, legal and commercial for instance, have in some cases been removed and employees are now working on a more level playing field, and the new tools that have been developed because of the pandemic have assisted with this. Many of the new policies that have been adopted, especially in terms of security and privacy, will likely remain post-pandemic, representing a truly historical change. All these new approaches will become an integral part of the organisation and determine a new way of working.

What are the most significant cases or transactions that your legal team has recently been involved in?

The most significant transactions my team has been involved in recently concern licensing agreements and antitrust accounts to the competition as well as compliance within Europe.

What do you feel are the pros and cons of an in-house legal role compared to a private practice one?

The two roles are quite different in the way they operate. In-house counsel work in the company and they commit to both its strategies and objectives. Private practice lawyers commit to providing professional guidance, instead. The in-house legal team is not only concerned with bringing legal expertise to the business, but also gives advice to the organisation and makes sure that all the operations are aligned with the goals and strategy of the company.