Could you share an example of a time when you came up with an innovation that improved how your legal team works and did not come at a large expense?

While working with my previous organisation, the biggest problem we faced was the quantum of contracts that was coming to the legal team particularly the non-core business agreements such as security contracts, housekeeping contracts, lease deeds, short term contractual engagements, etc. Even though we had created multiple templates for commonly used legal contracts, minor transactional specific tweaking was always needed and required the active involvement of legal team. The way we resolve this was to engage with our IT team to create a form which required entering very minimal details regarding the transaction and once entered, a customised agreement would be generated for use. Though you find several third party software for this automation now, we created this almost six or seven years ago when such document automation tools were not very common. This in fact reduced active involvement of the legal team by almost 75% and was done at minimal cost since it was completely developed in-house.

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

In my current organisation, we were involved in several M&A transactions, one of which involved an acquisition of a 300MW renewable energy green field project. This was quite significant and successful transaction since generally a transaction of this scale takes several months to close right from entering into the initial offer, due diligence and definitive documentation, however, our team was successful in closing out the transaction within a short period of 45 days from start to end. Further, this was the first such transaction which was managed completely by the in-house legal team without external support. 

What is a cause, business related or otherwise, that you care about, and why? 

The topic I am particularly concerned with and care about is environmental sustainability. Environmental sustainability is vital for several reasons. First and foremost, it ensures the preservation of our planet’s ecosystems and safeguarding biodiversity while preserving the delicate balance of nature. Sustainable practices include efforts made towards reduction of carbon emissions and promoting renewable energy, which are crucial not just crucial in mitigating the impacts of climate change but also for ensuring the well-being of humans.

Environmental sustainability directly affects human well-being by bringing change (for the better) to the quality of air, water, and soil, are quintessential for our health and good quality of life. By caring, protecting and preserving the environment, we protect ourselves from pollution-related diseases and ensure a higher quality of life not just for ourselves but more importantly for the future generations to come.

Economically, companies that integrate eco-friendly practices, often find themselves on the forefront of innovation, developing new and greener technologies and processes which may also turn out to be economically efficient. Companies that adopt sustainable practices often enjoy cost savings and increased competitiveness in the long run.

In conclusion, environmental sustainability is a global imperative that demands our attention and proactive participation. It is not just a moral imperative; it’s an investment in a healthier, more resilient future for both the planet and its inhabitants. It’s a shared responsibility that requires collective action to address the climate change.