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

Inflationary pressures have been the number one challenge for us over the last year. With external costs increasing, we have needed to find ways to achieve the same or better outcomes without increasing spend. This situation has required a creative mindset focused on investing time to improve internal systems and processes.

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

The Covid-19 pandemic necessitated rapid change to the way we all communicate. Video conferencing and messaging tools became the norm, complementing emails, phone calls and face to face meetings. The challenge for in-house legal teams now is responding to communications across multiple channels. Technological advancements that streamline the various channels of communication into one are likely to improve the way legal teams work in the future. AI developments like ChatGPT are also creating new opportunities and challenges for the legal community to consider.

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

Sport is a complex industry with many facets. The ability to see the big picture and appreciate how the various pieces of the puzzle fit together is essential to providing strategic legal advice that empowers the sporting organisation to bring its vision to life. As an in-house lawyer in the sports and entertainment industry, it is crucial to have passion for sport as a business, a commitment to drive its growth and a willingness to reimagine how things could be done.