Team size: Four
What are the most significant cases, transactions or projects that your legal team has recently been involved in?
T. Rowe Price’s Legal Department is committed to delivering the highest quality legal services while upholding the firm’s culture of integrity. We collaborate with internal and external business partners to drive the firm’s business strategies, all with the ultimate goal of supporting clients in achieving their objectives. In the past year, Legal played a pivotal role in helping the firm secure regulatory approval to conduct Type II Financial Instruments Business, a key component of the firm’s strategy to accelerate international growth and expand its alternative capabilities. A global Project Team was formed to obtain the license, implement the necessary measures, and align with stakeholders on end-to-end processes to ensure compliance with all regulations—while safeguarding the client experience. Legal led this effort, ensuring that compliance did not hinder our service delivery.

Based on your experience, what is the key to collaborating successfully with business partners?
Talk to them! Communication is vital in building trust. Try to understand what the business partners are trying to achieve. In this context, in-house lawyers must understand the business and the organisation inside out (and not just the law). Provide solutions whenever possible, but don’t hesitate to say no when necessary—business partners value understanding the risks involved.

Apart from legal matters, has the team worked on other company initiatives you would like to highlight?
The Legal team plays a key role in various company initiatives and projects. Notably, Legal is actively involved in a global project focused on optimising operational processes related to Japanese accounts. Within this context, the Legal team participates both as a member of the Steering Committee and as part of the Working Group.