Team size:   32  

First, can you please give us an idea of the sort of work your team has done recently 

The Rail Cargo Group’s legal team consists of the Management of Subsidiaries and General Legal Advisory Department as well as the Claims and Insurance Department. We look after around 65 shareholdings in the rail and logistics sector throughout Europe and beyond. Day-to-day operations focus on the areas of railroad law, transport law and corporate law, as well as a significant proportion of board support. In addition, we have recently been involved in the legal support of M&A transactions and the evaluation of potential cooperations and joint venture projects. 

How does your legal strategy change during periods of instability or uncertainty?     

Periods of economic challenges with which the railroad sector is currently confronted also require a different approach in the legal field. More than ever, difficult legal contractual arrangements play a role in day-to-day operations, and we are required to consider the most optimal legal arrangements for the group of companies within the scope of what is legally possible. In addition, standardization in the legal field is important to reduce the “administrative” effort both within our own team and within our clients and thus achieve even greater efficiency. 

Do you make use of any ‘legal tech’ products, and if so, for which areas of your job do you find it most useful? 

Legal tech gained importance in the legal department many years ago within the scope of what was possible at the time. In addition to the use of numerous databases, we at Rail Cargo Austria AG use a tool to manage board meetings, which enables modern and streamlined meeting management regardless of location. A year ago, we looked in detail at a contract workflow tool and looked at the extent to which artificial intelligence could provide added value. We believe that artificial intelligence could be used in the future, but now we still see too many “uncertainties” for professional use in our group.