First, can you please give us an idea of the sort of work your team has done recently? 

Working in the legal department of an alternative investment fund manager (AIFM) requires the ability to deal with a wide range of matters ranging from corporate governance or contracts negotiation to complex fund structuring, passing through transversal topics such as data protection or ESG, while adapting on an ongoing basis to global regulatory changes. For example, we are currently launching a new product which has been subject to two different regulatory regimes and might opt for a third. The defined investment objective and strategy will eventually lead to the implementation of new processes (internal and cross border) in order to comply with specific regulations’ requirements. Due to the international dimension of our firm, we need to find solutions to help the business achieve their goal while being compliant with the local legal and regulatory rules. In addition, each time a new product is contemplated, we are analysing if it is covered by our current license and if not, we need to assess what would be the impact of extending our license accordingly and, when appropriate, go through the related implementation phase.   

What particular industry trends are you seeing in the legal sector in Luxembourg?  

One of the main trends I have witnessed is the internalisation of corporate services allowing (i) companies to have greater control over the costs associated to those services as well as over sensitive information and processes; and (ii) internal teams to be better integrated into the company’s decision-making processes and contribute more directly to strategic goals. Such internalisation is also a key factor when it comes to justifying the proper substance and adequacy of the resources of the company. The foregoing usually leads to the development of a skilled and knowledgeable in-house team capable of addressing complex corporate service needs, that team being increasingly assisted by automated solutions enhancing efficiency, reducing manual errors, and providing real-time insights into various business processes. 

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

An important factor in my life is diversity, equity, and inclusion. I am a French woman living in Luxembourg, an international hub in term of population (with more than 47% being foreigners representing around 180 different nationalities) as well as in terms of the funds industry (second largest investment fund centre worldwide after the USA). On top of it, I am working for an international firm headquartered in the USA, whose credo is diversity drives performance. This combination allows me not only to be part of a community where we continually exchange insights, embrace different perspectives, and challenge the status quo in order to propose the most efficient and appropriate solution to our sophisticated clients reflecting today’s values and trends but also to boost my self-development and keep an open-minded approach in my personal life.