Team size: Four

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

The number one challenge over the last year was, without doubt, the workload and overall intensity of work following substantial growth of our company. This pushed me and the legal team to efficiently prioritise our assignments, providing fast and accurate legal opinions to minimise risk and allow the business to move in the right direction.

Do you have an example of a time when you have come up with an innovation that improved how your legal team works that did not result in a large expense?

Last year, I digitalised the process of contract signing. As we send hundreds of contracts and documents out for signature every year, this innovation allowed us to drastically reduce courier costs, save precious working time for the team and dramatically shorten the turnaround time for contracts.

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

To be successful, an in-house lawyer needs to provide practical advice within a business-oriented mindset. Finding creative solutions for the business is key. In-house lawyers should have a deep understanding of the business’ function in order to develop and deliver impactful legal advice. Clear, rapid and effective communication are essential for effective assistance across the business’ various departments. There is rarely time for lengthy research into the ‘perfect’ answer for the problem at hand.