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

After Covid-19 restrictions were relaxed, air travel in the first quarter of 2022 made me very anxious. However, despite my anxiety, there were many positives to this challenge. The ability to connect with team members and physically be part of a broader team and client network – and the overall positive energy that came with such travel and interaction was priceless. In hindsight, I believe I could have avoided all that apprehension and concern.

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?

My team is constantly seeking ways to improve and increase impact. For example, a very simple allocation system was implemented, and it helped to uniformly allocate tasks, assess workload and keep track of complex matters. Hence, teams had increased visibility, access to internal clients and were able to deepen their trust-based relationships. Besides streamlining workflow, this system make progress in developing training materials and resources for our internal client.

We also developed additional trainings on legal support matters and processes for internal clients at all levels. This low-cost investment was highly beneficial as clients were empowered – to a degree – with basic knowledge on policies and processes. with the legal team gaining a reputation for being pro-active and solution oriented.

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

It is important to be a present and strategic part of the business. As in-house counsel we regularly interact with different teams across the entire organisation and therefore, should be able to translate legal speak into plain words. Clear, precise communication is key as most internal teams need strategic, actionable advice. Internal clients and teams must also feel comfortable approaching you or the team with legal questions. This approachability will help build strong relationships and engender trust.

It is also imperative as in-house counsel to anticipate challenges before they arise and swiftly communicate potential risks, to allow the business to make informed judgments. The ability to identify looming issues and design proactive solutions to help remove or mitigate risks are critical skills.

Finally, a desire to learn is required to stay updated on changes in the business, industry or regulatory environment.