Legal team size: 22 members in the Americas legal team (80 members globally)

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

As the general counsel for the Americas at Avanade, a joint venture of Accenture and Microsoft, I am proud to highlight that our legal department has played a crucial role supporting our company in reimagining the future of business. From implementing virtual rounding solutions to connect clinicians with patients and families for primary US healthcare providers, to exploring how a private 5G network can enhance and modernise port operations for major US port authorities; from creating AI-enabled solutions for leading Latin America healthcare operators, to deploying and upgrading ERP systems for major Canadian companies in the automotive parts and accessories industry; from aiding global management consulting firms in reinventing their knowledge management platforms, to developing comprehensive solutions that offer new methods to detect, monitor, and mitigate gas emissions for large US energy holding companies. The Avanade Legal team provided the transactional and legal support instrumental to the success of our business and our clients in this hyper-connected world.

Over the past year, a significant focus of our efforts has been in Generative AI, with Avanade leading the way as a pioneer and market leader in this advanced technology. We view AI as the future of computing, and we have provided our business with the legal support to assist clients in adopting an AI-first mindset, operation, and approach.

Furthermore, inspired by our belief that “technology should happen for people rather than to them”, the Avanade Legal team chose to spearhead a technology with significant implications for the entire legal sector. Our legal department was among the first to adopt Copilot (Microsoft Generative AI) and has integrated it into our legal services. This initiative has not only streamlined our operations but also positioned us as testimonials for clients in the legal industry and other global enterprises. Our unique blend of direct experience, legal acumen, and tech expertise enabled us to inspire our clients’ legal departments in grasping Generative AI and adopting a forward-thinking, AI-ready strategy, helping them become future-ready legal organisations augmented by technology.

Which recent political, economic or regulatory changes have impacted your work the most in the past year?

AI generated enormous opportunities along with several challenges. The Avanade Legal team faced the task of navigating a novel regulatory and ethical landscape at the dawn of the AI/GenAI era to ensure and promote the legal, ethical, and responsible implementation of this technology.

How does your legal team collaborate with other departments within the company?

Avanade legal is not just a fundamental part of our business organisation, but by integrating Copilot into our legal services, we have reached a whole new level of collaboration with our business teams, allowing us to proactively drive new market opportunities.