Team size: 15

How do you feel the pandemic has changed the world of work for in-house counsel and the function of the general counsel?

After spending a transitional period in which we familiarised with virtual working, my legal team and our corporate customer have reached increased effectiveness. Still, some negotiations require in-person meetings, and the pandemic has made such meetings way more complex. Overall, it can be firmly stated that although Covid-19 has created multiple challenges, we were always able to find solutions, primarily relying on IT and Legal Tech.

What will be the main focus for the company in the next 12 months and how do you intend to assist with this?

The biggest challenge that we will have to face in the following years will be adapting the organisation, our way of working, and our tools (including IT) to an increased need for assistance from our subsidiaries.

What do you feel are the pros and cons of an in-house legal role compared to a private practice one?

There are several pros—in-house lawyers are closer to the business and the clients they work for (and consequently understand the company and the legal requirements better) than private practice lawyers. In-house lawyers can always outsource legal projects and questions to specialised private practice lawyers whenever in-house lawyers lack expertise or capacity. When the in-house legal team is not up-to-date and lacks the necessary knowledge to answer the demands of the business — that is one of greatest cons.