What are the most significant cases or transactions that your legal team has recently been involved in? (Please mark anything confidential clearly, and feel free to speak in general terms if you wish, we’re just trying to describe the sort of work your team has been engaged with over the past year) 

Our Team assists the Gokongwei Group of companies with its various operational concerns by providing strategic legal advice (on legal restrictions, data privacy and intellectual property). The team also provides legal and regulatory assistance in local and cross-border transactions in Asia, Oceania and the United States in the various industries the Conglomerate is involved in (e.g. manufacturing, real estate, banking, insurance, media, information and technology, etc.), mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, as well as various investments in private equity, funds and/or securities.

Why are in-house lawyers well-placed to drive change in their organisations?    

In-house lawyers are able to drive change because their knowledge of legal or regulatory restrictions or requirements, coupled with an understanding of the commercial and operational needs of the organization, allows them to provide strategic advice to management to guide them in their decision-making process for the business. This knowledge gives in-house lawyers a unique perspective on what is going on within the organization. And if coupled with communication and assertive skills, they have the ability to lead different groups, help facilitate discussions and implement effective change.

As we live in a fast-paced world today, what skills will a corporate legal team need to succeed in the modern in-house industry?  

They need to have time management skills, should be able to work in a team, be agile and have a solid set of communication skills. It is no longer sufficient to have a good foundation of law and regulations alone. To provide the most value to the organization, it is essential to be able to understand the business of the organization and its commercial needs, and strike a balance between this and the law/regulations by combining legal and business knowledge in order to provide strategic legal advice consistent with the risk appetite of the group. In order to do this, a certain level of creativity and skill in problem solving is necessary, as well as a certain aptitude for being assertive and comfortable in taking a leadership role.