Spotlight on… My career

Working with Edith Shih in the Hutchison legal team early in my in-house career instilled in me a sense of pride and joy in being part of a legal team with a seat at the table. This experience shaped my mission in the legal profession: to elevate the role of legal teams within organisations.

My mission is to ensure that in-house legal professionals are not seen merely as compliance enforcers or risk mitigators but as strategic partners who actively contribute to the company’s success. I am committed to advocating for the integration of legal expertise in business decision-making processes, ensuring that legal teams are enablers who are involved early and consistently in strategic discussions.

This involves fostering an engaged, committed, hands-on, and responsible culture within the legal team with professionals who do not see their roles as procuring external legal services or as the mailbox between in-house clients and external legal counsels.

The first step in this process is to implement a structured approach to ensure that my team understands and is motivated to embrace the vision. This requires clear communication, demonstrating the benefits, involving them in the process, and showing them my commitment.

In addition to showing initiative, staying on top of developments, and understanding the business landscape and its effects on our company, one of the critical aspects of our success is building strong, trust-based relationships with other departments. Managing stakeholders means understanding their needs, expectations, and concerns and working to build solid, trust-based relationships. This involves being communicative, responsive, and collaborative, ensuring that our actions align with the broader goals of the organisation.

This mission is even more crucial during times of instability. In such periods, having a legal team with a seat at the table is essential for navigating uncertainty, managing risks, and ensuring compliance with rapidly changing regulations. Our involvement can safeguard the company’s interests and uphold its ethical standards.

My strategic priorities in 2024 and beyond reflect these principles and address the evolving challenges and opportunities in the business landscape. They include navigating socio-economic uncertainty by staying on top of rapidly developing socio-economic conditions, conducting proactive risk assessments and scenario planning, and adopting agile legal responses to regulatory changes and market fluctuations. There is also a focus on integrating Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria into all aspects of the business. This involves promoting the use of renewable resources in our operations, fostering strategic partnerships with key tenants on sustainable initiatives, and maintaining strong governance practices to build a sustainable and ethical business.

Additionally, enhancing operational efficiency by streamlining legal processes and adopting best practices to increase efficiency and reduce costs is essential. This includes continuous improvement initiatives, technology adoption, and fostering a culture of efficiency and effectiveness within the legal team. Adapting to the rise of artificial intelligence is another priority, involving the monitoring of AI developments and exploring how they can be leveraged to enhance efficiency.

By focusing on these strategic priorities, I aim to ensure that the legal team not only supports the organisation’s current needs but also positions it for long-term success in a rapidly changing world.