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

Our team provides a full suite of services to the enterprise worldwide, in areas such as major UK litigation; large scale M&A; employee relations; commercial, and beyond. We have been closely involved in driving a risk-based strategic approach to deals, reacting to macro-issues -– including a huge amount of work in dealing with the consequences of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, driving transformation of the function, and carrying out strategic review.  

Can you foresee any key developments to the way general counsel work over the next five years? 

There will be a real push in commoditisation, automation, and AI, to enable the legal team to focus on providing strategic advice and pre-empting developments. General counsel will further recognise their role in transformation, and in driving equality, diversity, and inclusion. 

Could you share an example of a time when you came up with an innovation that improved how your legal team works and did not come at a large expense?  

True innovation takes place when teams are given time. Hence, we have been focusing on identifying what the legal team will stop doing, rather than just making what we currently do more efficient.  

As a general counsel, how do you anticipate and prepare for potential legal and regulatory challenges that may arise, particularly in light of emerging technologies and evolving business landscapes?  

We need to declutter, look outside – not just internally within our own organisation, speak to other organisations, and seek to truly understand the business.  

We have been using the phrase, ‘anticipation versus reaction’ to try and help the teams; asking the ‘what if’ and ‘so what’ questions. This is why there is such a key role for lawyers in effective enterprise risk management systems.  

What measures has your company taken to embed sustainability practices into its core business operations, and how does the role of the general counsel contribute to driving and ensuring sustainable practices within the company?  

The general counsel team within any organisation has the benefit of sitting across the enterprise. This position, and its role in risk and governance, gives the team a unique ability to influence sustainability – not just by advising from a legal risk perspective, but also by ensuring the company carries out its promises.