What are the most significant cases or transactions that your legal team has recently been involved in?

The most significant project we were recently involved in was the Lay’s x KFC culinary and co-branding projects in Malaysia and Brunei.

How important is choosing to work with external lawyers who align with your company’s values? Are you likely to reconsider what firms you work with based on this?

Every company has its own corporate values, philosophy, and policies. The easiest way to align external lawyers with the company’s values would be through the enforcement of such values on or before any work engagement.

For example, if your company has a standard term on anti-bribery and corruption, a clause on such can be added to a contract or any other kind of written affirmation to ensure that your external lawyers are aware of your company’s stance and that compliance is imperative – at risk of their services being terminated, alongside any sanction or legal obligations your company and any third party might have.

How do you suggest in-house lawyers build strong relationships with business partners?

The most critical quality to possess when entering the corporate world is the ability to fully understand and get familiar with the business, especially the product(s). This quality comprises the following components:

Knowledge of how the industry operates:

Each business industry operates differently. Knowledge should also involve understanding the company’s philosophy and how machines and people in the organisation function. This skill helps to build a strong bond with clients

Being responsive and reachable:

I believe it is normal for people to – consciously or unconsciously – expect swift reactions from people they approach, and the simplest way to do so is by promptly responding. Keeping a person waiting will eventually result in distrust in your working capabilities; thus, a simple “will revert” message once receiving any request, or a “thank you” message to end the conversation goes a long way.

Responsiveness also means being easily approachable, as shows clients that they are being prioritised, and will surely eliminate assumptions of abandonment.

Clear, adaptable communication:

Communication should be straight forward and should be translated from technical legal terms to something your audiences understand.

Understanding specific laws governing the business and its industry

There are many laws revolving around the business or industry that we may not know. However, it is vital for a legal counsel to understand the laws that directly impact the business. Knowledge and practice of the applicable laws will help to accurately guide the business along the right path.