How do you feel the pandemic has changed the world of work for in-house counsel and the function of the general counsel?
We were able to demonstrate that efficiency and productivity are not measure by the time you spend in an office, but by the responsibility and commitment that you put into achieving results, despite adverse circumstances.
During the pandemic, it was particularly important to gain a successfully balanced between family and work under the same roof. Particularly for me, it was incredibly challenging to achieve that balance without neglecting any area.
What are the most significant cases or transactions that your legal team has recently been involved in?
As it is known globally, Phoenix Tower International acquired one of OTECEL portfolios in which there were compliance deadlines for its execution that were vastly affected by all the circumstances that came along with the Covid-19 pandemic. The mandatory quarantine, the closure of public institutions, and the lack of technological mechanisms forced the extension of deadlines.
As a legal team, we were in search of mechanisms that would allow us to continue working effectively throughout the pandemic.
In addition to this, PTIE is looking to offer its attained portfolio to potential clients to whom the structure may be beneficial. This pandemic has allowed us to recognise in a very empathetic way that, without telecommunications, we would not have been able to continue with the professional, social, and educational services, therefore it becomes preponderant that the deployment of structures is agile and efficient in benefit of the development of the country.
How important have “soft skills” or personal attributes outside of technical legal skill been to the team’s success, and which “soft skills” do you feel are most important for an in-house lawyer to possess?
Currently, soft skills are transcendental in the day-to-day life of an in-house lawyer. The need to share information, execute tasks, determine projects and execution times in a virtual manner has helped us strengthen our personal abilities that are reflected in the success of a legal team.
In order to disseminate the most outstanding soft skills in our work team, it is important to firstly recognise that we need to work on our emotional intelligence, on having emotional control, in the ways that we communicate. I believe that it is important for the leader to guide their team, but not impose, to allow the team to build their own skills.
