About

Heading a 12-strong team, supporting the Middle East, Africa and India, Malcolm Haack is revolutionising the structure and effectiveness of the legal function, in the view of some sources. Amongst other things, the team’s remit has been considerably broadened, leading to greater involvement with business decision-making, at an earlier stage. He has also introduced a more specialist approach, and worked to heighten cross-border expertise. This aspect of his work, he admits, has at times been challenging, but he gains a real sense of achievement from seeing lawyers new to the in-house side, become ‘well-rounded’ professionals. It is also ‘the significant diversity in the issues faced and working with people across the globe to develop integrated delivery solutions for projects’, he says, which gives him most satisfaction from his position. Outside counsel need to understand their clients’ ‘pressure points’, he says. With previous employers including BHP Billiton, Telstra and Minter Ellison, Haack has broad international experience across a range of sectors.