Head of legal and associate general counsel | Shell
Sanne Overbosch
Head of legal and associate general counsel | Shell
What has been the number one challenge that has impacted you over the past year?
My main challenge in the past year was to determine the best mode of working after the pandemic and optimise both individual and collective performance and impact. We learned that a high performing legal team working in a range of different environments could still produce great results. It was a wonderful opportunity to work with open minded, result oriented and thorough lawyers.
Do you have an example of a time when you have come up with an innovation that improved how your legal team works that did not result in a large expense?
I am lucky to work in a creative, high-performance team. In my previous role, we supported a technology organisation which comprised a digital innovation group. That group inspired us to consider ways to be more data driven and optimise decision-making processes. As a result, the in-house team increased the use of dashboards to facilitate holistic conversation and developed a user-friendly app for legal support.
What would you say are the unique qualities required to be successful as an in-house lawyer in your industry?
The energy transition requires all of us to give our all. I am aware of my responsibilities as a lawyer, business partner, mother, and a member of society, and seek opportunities to make an impact. Success as an in-house lawyer requires more than legal expertise or experience. It is also important to have the ability to clearly articulate ideas and ethical solutions in an increasingly complex environment.