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

To achieve sustainable growth as a global medical technology company, we completed strategic business divestments and acquisitions over the past several years. Most recently, we were involved in the sale of Evident Corporation, our Scientific Solutions business. Throughout the separation, due diligence and negotiation phases, our legal team worked closely with our colleagues across the world and coordinated with law firms in multiple jurisdictions. We resolved complex legal matters resulting in the successful closing of the significant transaction.

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

Our legal team gained business skills in order to work more efficiently. Key topics include prioritisation, problem-solving and effective use of email. In addition, we tried to improve the quality and limit the number of our meetings. For example, we set clear meeting objectives, invited appropriate participants and determined next steps at the end of meetings. Furthermore, we utilised existing platforms such as Microsoft Teams and OneNote to enhance our knowledge management.

How important is choosing to work with external lawyers who align with your company’s values?

Choosing to work with external lawyers who respect our company’s values is extremely important. External lawyers who know our risk perception can properly assess legal risks and provide a practical suggestion that works for us in a timely manner. Excellent external lawyers anticipate our needs and deliver tailored, value-added alerts and bulletins. Understanding our corporate philosophy and company strategy is essential to becoming our trusted business advisors.

How do you suggest in-house lawyers build strong relationships with business partners?

In-house lawyers need to listen carefully to business partners and get to know the business to build strong relationships with them. A thorough knowledge of the company’s products or services, its business strategy, and its organisation is essential to add value to business partners. In addition, in-house lawyers should clearly indicate that their goal is to provide reasonable and practical solutions to achieve the company’s objectives. We should be open and transparent and enhance collaborative communication with the business partners. Regularly scheduled check-ins with the business are helpful to solicit feedback from business partners and determine areas for improvement.