Team size: 160

As we enter the next decade, what skills will a corporate legal team need to succeed in the modern in-house industry?

Whilst legal acumen, fluent communication both verbal and written is a given skill required of every legal team member. In the current environment of accelerated digitisation, a lawyer needs to be tech savvy and ready to learn and adopt technological advancements in the legal field, such as machine learning, litigation and contract management, and paperless court proceedings. Innovative thinking and learning agility are a necessary trait that one looks for in an in-house lawyer.

What is the biggest risk facing your industry now and how are you preparing your organisation to deal with this?

In my opinion, all modern-day legal teams must continually upskill themselves to deal with increasing regulatory oversight and compliance, increased consumer activism by using social media and police machinery as a tool to enforce demands.

The unusual business environment created by the pandemic has been swiftly followed by the Ukraine crisis, and attendant supply chain costs rising and rising inflation. Are you now putting more emphasis on preparing for the unforeseen and, if so, what does this entail?

Today, the legal department is perceived as an integral part of the organisation to make it future ready and deal with unforeseen challenges. There is increasing competition from shadow and digital banks, changing customer expectations in terms of service and enhanced experience. The legal team thus is required to constantly innovate in a fast-evolving environment and provide solutions which are strategic, as well as commercially acceptable.