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

The key challenge has been helping my company navigate a totally disrupted business environment. We and our legal teams need to reimagine ourselves and foster agility and resilience in all our decision-making. We’ve had to look at risk management as an opportunity to create and protect value for our business, identifying sources of uncertainty and predicting what’s around the corner without stifling entrepreneurial drive. Never use risk management to stall momentum – be an enabler, which is something that distinguishes a great general counsel from an average one.

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 young, ambitious organisation that is always seeking to be better and do things more efficiently. I can see a time in the near future where we have automated, AI-generated contract negotiations for certain classes of transactions that will streamline the way deals are done. For example, that type of ‘tech’ would help improve closing speed, which would increase deal flow, unlock asset values more quickly, drive efficiencies, and reduce transaction costs.

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

As in-house lawyers in the financial services sector, we have a bird’s eye view of activities across the business. Therefore, we should identify connections and apply a risk management lens that’s focused on predicting what’s around the corner. However, it’s important to do this without stifling momentum, business spirit or choking the organisation.

In-house lawyers can earn the deep respect and admiration of their internal business partners by displaying a ‘can do’ attitude. This should be the culture of any in-house legal team. Lawyers need to be performance-oriented, analytical and innovative. They should also be client-focused, proactive, adaptive and collaborative.

A successful in-house lawyer thinks big, is decisive, demonstrates good judgment and holds themselves accountable. You need to understand the overarching business plan and its key drivers, viewing legal work through a business lens to cut through bureaucracy and progress towards goals. Engender a culture of decisiveness; aim to quickly connect the dots, make the right calls with the information on hand and step out of your comfort zone to do so. Push yourself for results, but also face up to issues and work quickly to find solutions.