Team size: 22

Looking forward, what technological advancements do you feel will impact the role of in-house legal teams in the future the most?

We are a generation of workforce that has experienced a pandemic, and its effects on the way in which we work. A futuristic way of work is present, with virtual meetings, as working from home enables a more balanced approach to managing a career and maintaining a work-life balance. It also enables individuals to be able to participate in team sessions with multiple participants joining from different locations around the globe. This is a positive outcome, but also not one that would be devoid of setbacks. Enhanced use of tech will force organisations, managers and teams to become more creative in trying to maintain synergies and avoid the effects of silos kicking into place.

On a separate front, use of AI will enable a lot of standardisations to come into play, as typical form documentation starts to become a cheaper solution for teams keeping legal fees and expenses in check. Clients would also need to familiarise themselves with tech-related solutions in their daily interactions with organisations. The same will be required of court systems, recognising their validity, along with setting precedents relating to enforcement regimes prevalent around the same. What was previously a hardcore, hardcopy regime stands replaced with electronic solutions.

What is a cause, business related or otherwise, that you care about, and why?

Related to the business side, I would say transparency, dependability and growth. Also, I care much about enabling lawyers to feel empowered and providing the platform for individuals within the team to learn and grow. I think it is also very important to help our business partners to rely on the support provided by the legal team and to have the legal team be respected and relied upon as partners and as sponsors of the values maintained and upheld by the organisation. On causes non-business related, continuing to muster aid and assist in relief efforts to help support the people of my ancestral village, Kehar Village in Sindh, Pakistan, and the surrounding areas, especially in the wake of the floods that have affected the country during 2022.

What can law firms do to improve their service to the legal department?

In my opinion, law firms can improve their management of client expectations around response timelines, being clearer and more definitive when advising clients, and maintaining accessibility, as preferred lawyers for in-house counsel that is usually bound by business-driven timelines, tend to be those that remain available for their clients, despite being excellent as what they do and hence extremely busy.