How do you see the general counsel role evolving in Malaysia over the next five-ten years?

The role of the general counsel will no longer be only that of a legal advisor in the coming years. The role is likely to expand to include various new business units that essentially make up the organisation’s business governance ecosystem. The result will be that general counsel will evolve into more commercially minded contributors to the business and not just legal guardians.

In QSR for example, this journey has already begun. While essentially being the general counsel leading the legal department, I also manage the risk and compliance, halal and syariah and sustainability (ESG) Departments along with the role of supporting the company secretarial department. The above combination further forms a more commercial and holistic governance unit that can better serve the company and its strategic objectives. Given this direction and the ongoing cost realities facing companies, this will undoubtedly be the future for many internal departments and general counsels. For all young in-house practitioners, I advise that you adopt and embrace the additional knowledge alongside your legal expertise.

As we enter the next decade, what skills will a corporate legal team need to succeed in the modern in-house industry?

General counsel still needs to be technically competent in their legal knowledge and at the same time improve their skills in various areas, particularly risk, compliance, sustainability, integrity, company secretarial and corporate governance which will put them in a more valuable position and allow them to contribute in a strategic and commercial capacity. Additionally, with the increased in-house use of search engines and AI technologies across businesses, the ability to extract added value while retaining industry-based personal legal support from outside counsel will be a necessity for all in-house practitioners.