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? 

The role of General Counsel has evolved in recent years from advising on purely legal matters to broader business strategy. During periods of instability or crisis, I approach the management of legal aspects by adopting a broader overall perspective. My strategy is that legal decisions are not made in a vacuum but should also consider broader business issues including implications for public relations, longer-term relations with strategically important counterparties and partners, geopolitical risk, and employee perception. I always maintain close working relationships and contact with key business leaders at our company to ensure I am up to speed on our business strategy and goals. To supplement and complement this, I try to be plugged in on external events such as GC roundtables as well as macroeconomic and geopolitical developments to also get a sense of what peers in the industry are also thinking. In so doing, my legal strategy would generally always align with the broader business strategy; this is further strengthened by clear communication and coordination with our key business leaders.  

What are the most significant cases and/or transactions that your legal team has recently been involved in?  

In the past year, my team has continued to support Ralph Lauren’s ambitious growth plan (particularly in Greater China) with the opening of over 30 new stores throughout the Asia Pacific region, including several new emblematic stores which incorporate Ralph Lauren’s hospitality business line (Ralph’s Coffee), particularly in Shenzhen and Wuhan.  

In addition, my team also vigorously led Ralph Lauren’s brand enforcement efforts throughout the region, obtaining significant judgments and recoveries (over US$1 million in mainland China) through investigations and actions in relation to counterfeit goods and trademark infringement. 

Do you have a cause, business-related or otherwise, that you are passionate about?  

I am passionate about mentoring. I was a university tutor for a year after I graduated, and I really enjoyed the experience of teaching and sharing knowledge with my students. As I developed professionally, in that same vein, I enjoyed mentoring and have found it very rewarding, as I also get the opportunity to learn from younger people (particularly on how they think as well as the more recent trends) – mentoring is a two-way street. I have done mentoring formally through my company, university alumni groups, as well as other community organisations.