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 periods of instability or crises requires a proactive, strategic approach that is tightly aligned with the broader business strategy to ensure organisational resilience. Our methodology encompasses several key components:

Risk assessment and management — the legal team needs to initiate comprehensive risk assessments to identify potential legal and regulatory impacts on the business. This involves collaborating with various departments to understand their challenges and anticipating issues that could arise from external factors such as economic downturns, political instability, or industry-specific disruptions.

Crisis response team — the legal team needs to establish a dedicated crisis response team composed of legal, compliance, and business leaders. The legal team is responsible for developing and executing rapid response plans, ensuring swift decision-making and clear communication channels during crises.

Scenario planning — the Legal team is developing legal strategies for best-case, worst-case, and most likely scenarios, ensuring that we have flexible plans in place that can be adapted as situations evolve.

Alignment with the business strategy — our legal strategy is designed to support and enhance the broader business strategy. We work closely with senior management to ensure that legal considerations are integrated into strategic decision-making processes. This alignment helps to safeguard business continuity and protect key assets while pursuing growth opportunities even in challenging times.

By integrating these components into our approach, we ensure that our legal strategies not only address immediate challenges but also contribute to the long-term resilience and success of the organisation. Our focus on alignment with the broader business strategy ensures that we are not just reacting to crises but proactively positioning the company to emerge stronger and more competitive.

How do you prioritise diversity and inclusion within your legal department, and what initiatives have you implemented to foster a more inclusive and equitable work environment?

In our legal department, prioritising diversity and inclusion is fundamental to our success and reflects our commitment to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. We recognise that a diverse and inclusive environment fosters creativity, innovation, and better decision-making.

Diversity and inclusion are not just buzzwords in our legal department; they are integral to our culture and operations. By implementing comprehensive strategies and initiatives, we strive to create a work environment where every employee feels valued, respected, and empowered to contribute their unique perspectives. Our commitment to diversity and inclusion drives us to continually assess and enhance our efforts, ensuring that we remain a leader in fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace.