What has been the number one challenge that has impacted you over the past year?  

We were looking to grow our team in 2022, and the legal hiring market in Australia was very competitive. Despite this, we managed to add very talented individuals to the team who have all hit the ground running.

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

The legal sector is already and will continue to be significantly impacted by technology. We already see significant advancements in machine learning assisting with contract review and data capture, for example, at Blackstone portfolio company ONTRA. In addition, document management systems are improving, and the true impact of AI on the legal industry is nascent. I see this as a massive positive for in-house counsel by bringing efficiencies from a cost perspective and an ability to have your firm’s know-how collated, and one click away. This will free up more time for in-house counsel to be productive and concentrate on key strategic and high-value items for their businesses.

What would you say are the unique qualities required to be successful as an in-house lawyer in your industry?

Every day is different given the diversity of the role. As an in-house lawyer, you are an adviser, confidant, negotiator, implementer, reviewer and strategic thinker touching all aspects of the business, including legal, operational and general business strategy. Given this, it is critical that you seize opportunities to learn and take on new challenges. At Blackstone, I am fortunate to be part of an organisation that sees its legal team as a critical component of the firm and acknowledges the real value that legal practitioners can bring to transactions.