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 involves considering and navigating a complex web of regulations, case law, contractual obligations and potential liabilities, which can be overwhelming.

It is therefore central to timely steering transactions and shipping disputes whilst thriving to maintain the organisation’s business integrity, reputation and upholding its values. It is also of paramount importance to work closely with all business units of the organisation in order to appreciate potential issues and safeguard company’s interests when necessary.

As regards the legal strategy, it is important for an in-house lawyer to understand and encompass the company’s values, objectives and strengths in order to foster business and reputational growth and enhance the organisation’s resilience when navigating transactions and disputes. This involves providing support when requested from the origin of a business transaction or dispute need until close of the transaction and finalisation of a dispute.

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?

In an era of constant technological advancement, the legal profession witnesses significant changes in the way lawyers practice law, mainly due to innovations like artificial intelligence, blockchain and data analytics. Legal research, document review, smart contract drafting, and analysis of large datasets can assist lawyers predict case outcomes, identify possible risks and formulate litigation strategies. Such insights may save not only administrative time, resources and legal costs but may also improve business operations.

However, such emerging technologies do not come without legal, ethical and technological challenges which must be carefully steered. It is therefore important for an in-house lawyer to stay abreast of technological developments and regulatory changes via seminars and material from industry sources to appropriately embrace innovation and uphold legal and ethical standards.