Team size: ∼10 

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

Our team is mainly divided into two different business lines that we call “corporate legal” and “transactional legal.” On the corporate legal team, the main focus is on corporate law, corporate governance, contractual law (mainly for service providers agreements), labour law, data protection, outsourcing, compliance, and regulatory matters. On the transactional legal team, the focus is clearly on the transactions with our clients for our three different business lines: custody (including lending, FX arrangements), securities agency (agent role in Eurobonds issuances) and the structuring of investment funds domiciled in various jurisdictions but served out of Luxembourg. 

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

Four main trends to mention: (i) ESG matters (including SFDR, CSRD, CRE Risks) (ii) data and technology (GDPR, DORA, outsourcing, development of AI, blockchain), (iii) flexibility and its legal impacts (satellite offices, homeworking, digitalisation of offices). The new banking environment is very challenging for lawyers are most of the hot topics go far beyond the core activities and pure business-related processes. 

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

Sustainability and ESG. On top of my general counsel role, I am also heading the sustainability office of the bank to further develop this area which I hope will become mainstream for any financial institution. Banks can help protect our world. Senior bankers should put their efforts into making sure that banks are (again) well perceived in society.