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

Our legal team has recently been involved with the implementation of mergers and acquisitions, ESG reporting, drafting of policies and procedures for legal compliance as well as the restructuring of shareholder interests in foreign companies.

What are some of the main trends in the industry sector you work in in Malaysia?

The main trends in the plantation, manufacturing and real estate development sectors are related to mechanisation, sustainability, renewable energy and ESG.

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

I believe that corporate legal teams will need four key skills if they wish to succeed in the modern in-house industry. These skills would include, creative problem-solving, they must be commercially savvy, have technological competence, and strong emotional intelligence.

How do you suggest in-house lawyers build strong relationships with business partners?

There are three core components to building strong business relationships as in-house lawyers. The first is to communicate. In-house lawyers should constantly check in with their partners whether that is in person or virtually. This constant communication will ensure that expectations from both parties are aligned. I advocate that lawyers should always communicate in a concise and business-like manner. Secondly, it is important that in-house lawyers engage with their business partners. They should reach out and meet their business partners so that they can truly listen and understand their concerns and any underlying issues. As an in-house lawyer, it is also important to get to know your business partners before outside of the legal issues. You should invest time and effort into getting to know your partners and cultivate relationships in and outside of office.