About

‘Senior legal in-house counsel leadership in a complex corporate setting is an exciting and multi-dimensional challenge’, opines Steven van der Donk. Operating at the heart of Australia’s biggest ever infrastructure project, the National Broadband Network, he has made significant changes to the internal processes of the legal function. The build operations legal team he runs has been central to NBN’s construction, as well as ‘strategic contracting transformation initiatives’ relating to its multi-technology mix rollout. Operating within an environment of constant flux, van der Donk has helped guide the project during turbulent periods. ‘These external factors created a heightened sensitivity within the team and the effects had the potential to be extremely negative if not handled appropriately from the leadership perspective’, he says. ‘Thankfully, we are well through those times. There is an even greater need for communication and support amongst the team, and it is important to recognise the extra workload that is likely being absorbed by the team during these times of change and pressure’. There is a lot of potential for law firms to find faster, more effective ways to work with in-house clients, van der Donk feels. ‘Speed of advice is critical for in-house counsel to not only keep up with the tempo of business decision-making, but to, wherever possible, be ahead of the business, spotting issues at long range. Fast high quality legal advice in anticipation of legal and commercial issues will increase the chance of better business decision-making’.