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

The pandemic has influenced the last years; however, I do not think that it has highly changed the world of work for in-house counsel and the function of the general counsel. One thing has changed significantly — in-house lawyers do not always become involved in a preventive stage in all relevant business decisions; instead, in-house counsel must perform outreach services by working closely with their colleagues and stakeholders in the organisation. That had become difficult when remote working took over during extended lockdowns. Still, the involvement of in-house counsel has not been less critical during the pandemic, especially considering often changing restrictions and introduction to new rules and regulations that companies must follow- often on short notice.

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

The main focus for my company in the next 12 months will be to win back the customers we have lost during the pandemic due to travel restrictions and changes in regulations. Extended lockdowns have led to a considerable loss of customers, and we have also faced structural changes, given the new approach to work based on less travel and less commuting — calling for new products. Our sector is highly regulated; therefore, the development of new products requires the involvement of our legal team — throughout the pandemic, it has worked closely with our commercial organisation to access the market with relevant products, monitoring the lifting of restrictions.

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

Despite a past in private practice, I have now been an in-house counsel long enough to reach a point where it is difficult to see the cons of the role compared to the counterpart. There are many pros of being a general counsel, such as being part of the business decision-making process, working in an environment with greater diversity, not only regarding gender but also in terms of backgrounds and competencies, and finally, the obvious one —a better work-life balance.