Focus On… Being a general counsel in an ever-changing world 

The Western World is becoming ever more regulated. The speed and volume of laws, regulations and governmental decrees coming into effect does not cease to increase. As general counsel it is very challenging to stay abreast of all the new rules and not to miss any critical items.

In that sense, as a first step, it is crucial to systematically organise oneself to have access to enough different sources aimed at highlighting any upcoming changes. The second step may then consist of being able to organise enough bandwidth within the legal team to be able to tackle new challenges. This requires an organisation within the team allowing for a maximum of flexibility and readiness to adapt to new subjects and complications.

In that sense, more than ever before, it is key for the whole legal team to constantly be open to new opportunities and tasks – doing things the same way as always is no longer an option. As the cost pressure remains constantly high, new technologies, such as AI but also readily available tools in the market, should not be seen as a threat, but rather should be embraced and tried willingly to increase efficiency and output – while not increasing headcount.