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

One of the most exciting projects we started last year was upgrading our brewery facilities, which involved the installation of a state-of-the-art glass bottle packaging line. The upgraded facility not only increases product flexibility and capacity, but it is also able to meet the increased complexity in packaging innovation. It will also improve the company’s sustainability performance as it will reduce our energy, water and waste footprint.

Many complex issues arise with such high-value projects, including contract negotiations with suppliers, obtaining approval from authorities, stock supply in the market and internal and external communications. Our team’s primary role was to work with the relevant stakeholders to ensure the smooth completion of the project within the target timeline.

What are some of your main tips for dealing with a crisis?

Stay calm and focused. The most important thing when a crisis occurs is to immediately identify the issue and create an action plan to rectify or mitigate the situation. In my organisation, we have prepared an efficient crisis management plan that guides us on what steps to take in a crisis. This includes the preparation of a local crisis management team and an annual crisis simulation drill to ensure team members are aware of what to do in the event of a crisis.

As a member of the crisis management team, my role is to provide advice on possible legal actions, obligations and liabilities of the company. I also work with the corporate affairs team on communications and ensure that the necessary announcements are made in a timely manner. Post-crisis, we conduct a comprehensive assessment to capture key learnings and follow up on any action plans.

Looking forward, what technological advancements do you feel will impact the role of in-house legal teams in the future the most? Which have you found most useful in your legal team?

I believe that technologies involving workflow automation, collaborative workspaces, and automated filtering tools among others, will help in organising and processing high volumes of data and change the traditional ways of working.

In my organisation, we recently implemented the use of an automated third-party screening tool which has made it easier for our stakeholders to screen potential business partners. The legal team will only be notified if there are high-risk business partners, from where we will carry out the necessary due diligence and advice on mitigating actions. This tool has turned a complicated due diligence checklist into a simple Q&A that our stakeholders can easily complete. It has also reduced the burden on the legal team, allowing us to focus on high-risk business partners.