Legal team size:Four

How do you approach managing legal aspects during periods of instability or crises, and how does your legal strategy align with the broader business strategy to ensure the organisation’s resilience?

Managing legal aspects during instability requires a proactive and integrated approach. I prioritise identifying immediate legal risks, such as regulatory compliance, contractual obligations, and litigation exposure and working in line with our established crisis management framework which focuses on risk assessment, mitigation, and clear communication.

To align legal strategy with broader business goals, I ensure the legal team participates in cross-functional decision-making. This enables swift responses to crises while safeguarding long-term interests. For instance, during economic disruptions, strategies may include renegotiating contracts, ensuring regulatory adaptability, and supporting business continuity plans.

Transparent communication with stakeholders builds trust and mitigates reputational risks. By combining agility with a forward-looking perspective, the legal team acts as a stabilising force, ensuring organisational resilience.

In your opinion, what are the main trends affecting your work now?

Several trends are shaping the in-house legal landscape. Economic uncertainty is being driven by Inflation, interest rate fluctuations, and global disruption. This impacts business operations, requiring robust risk management.

There are also constant shifts in the regulatory landscape. Regulatory changes, such as the introduction of the bilateral regime in the Nigerian electricity market by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), demand continuous monitoring and adaptation to remain compliant.

What strategic priorities are guiding your legal team into 2025?

As we approach 2025, our legal team is focused on three priorities:

Enhancing Digital Readiness: Leveraging technology to streamline legal processes, improve contract management, and provide faster, data-driven insights.

Strengthening Compliance and Risk Management: Proactively addressing regulatory requirements.

Fostering Strategic Partnerships: Building stronger internal and external relationships to embed legal considerations into decision-making processes, enhancing both value and efficiency.