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?   

In a dynamic business environment, such as that of Genepharm, a rapidly expanding global generic pharmaceutical company, instability or crises can arise unexpectedly. As the internal legal department, our primary goal is to prepare management for potential risks, ensuring they are fully informed when making critical business decisions.

Periods of instability or crisis serve as a significant test for the entire organisation. During these times, my focus is on being able to adapt, support, and rapidly assess risks. This involves a comprehensive process of gathering relevant information and analysing the legal, factual, business, economic, and technical aspects of the situation. By adopting this holistic approach, we, as a department, assess the situation, comprehend the nature of the crisis, and formulate a protective and legitimate action plan for the organisation.

Aligning our strategy with the organisation’s goals is essential and is the next step to take when setting the action plan. I believe that the legal department should act as a strategic partner, advisor, and supporter, working in harmony with business objectives.

What measures has your company taken to embed sustainability practices into its core business operations, and how does the role of the general counsel contribute to driving and ensuring sustainable practices within the company?

The Legal Department at Genepharm is responsible for managing our Compliance Programme and plays a key role within our established cross-functional ESG team. Our company is deeply committed to sustainability, and we have proactively implemented an environmental management system.

Our dedication to ethical business practices is reinforced through our recently updated Code of Conduct and the newly implemented Human Rights Policy, supported by comprehensive policies addressing anti-corruption, whistleblowing, and labour-related issues. We ensure that these standards are upheld by conducting regular training sessions and providing periodic updates to our employees. A critical component of our sustainability efforts is ensuring that our suppliers comply with our rigorous standards. To strengthen this, we are in the process of enhancing our Supply Policy. In parallel, we are preparing for the forthcoming reporting obligations.

Through these initiatives and many others, the Legal Department ensures that Genepharm’s sustainability practices are seamlessly integrated into our operations, remain legally sound, and are strategically aligned with our long-term goals.

What emerging technologies do you see as having the most significant impact on the legal profession in the near future, and how do you stay updated on these developments? 

Emerging technologies are set to profoundly impact the legal profession in the near future. Among these, I believe that AI will be the most transformative. AI is anticipated to revolutionise legal research, document review, contract analysis, and even predictive analytics for case outcomes. Rather than viewing AI as a threat, I see it as an invaluable tool that allows lawyers to focus on more complex, strategic tasks. To stay abreast of these advancements, we implement several proactive strategies, such as participating in webinars and conferences focused on legal technology, subscribing to legal tech journals and newsletters, collaborating closely with our IT department to understand and effectively integrate new technologies, and investing in legal tech solutions. By adopting these strategies, we ensure that we are not only well-informed about emerging technologies but also equipped to integrate them into our operations effectively. This proactive approach will enhance our efficiency, improve the quality of our legal services, and help us maintain a competitive edge in the ever-evolving legal landscape.