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 dramatically changed the habits of individuals and affected the way of working for every professional including but not limited to the in-house counsel and the general counsel. Working for a multinational technology company during the pandemic provided me the opportunity to face a range of challenges from different areas of work, such as rapid deployment of infrastructure and facilities across the globe. Being an associate group general counsel during the pandemic challenged my leadership as a legal manager. By supporting working in a safe and flexible environment, I focused on encouraging colleagues across the globe to collaborate effectively with each other by sharing their knowledge and experience on interconnectivity and multijurisdictional way of working.

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

In-house counsel are required to have general knowledge of different areas of law rather than having a strong expertise in one specific area of law. They are also considered to be managers having in-depth knowledge of the company’s business and overall strategy. Giving clear guidance to stakeholders using business acumen, in-house lawyers provide rapid support to the go-to-market company.