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?  

Country teams in large global institutions are small and cannot by circumstance work as product and group verticals. Country teams thus have to be versatile and nimble. We function across legal entities, business verticals and also represent group functions such as litigation, intellectual property, employment law, and real estate. 

As a country team, we are not only responsible for all legal aspects for the India franchise, but we serve as the initial point of contact for businesses, functions, partner business verticals, and group legal teams to address inquiries related to law, regulations, product and transaction structures, litigation, and dispute resolution. Additionally, we facilitate the engagement of the most suitable law firm, ensuring cost-effectiveness and favourable terms when necessary.  

Further, given the variety of matters we work with, we have built a comprehensive database that we use as a tool for accessing material, including contractual templates, regulatory and case law updates, statutory development summaries, as well as contractual and policy guidelines that need to be factored into legal response and legal risk mitigation. This resource is accessible to all of the team for implementation and use to ensure effective risk management. This has been cost-effective and has helped ensure that relevant information is available to all and timely. 

If you had to give advice to an aspiring in-house lawyer or general counsel, what would it be and why?  

The most incorrect assumption to make is that an in-house lawyer has a light role. These roles need commitment and responsiveness, open communication, and a mutually respectful partnership with businesses, functions, and management teams. One must be prepared to be available but also ensure that by conduct and demeanour, the legal team is respected for what it brings to the table. An in-house role is a fantastic opportunity to build and hone a diversity of skills and become a very versatile lawyer and one must be prepared to put in the hard work.