Team size: 10

Looking forward, what technological advancements do you feel will impact the role of in-house legal teams in the future the most?

I think AI will play a huge role in the legal world. From contract drafting to providing legal advice, technology will soon be an important piece. It is not necessarily negative when it comes to job security, rather it will be a tool that will allow lawyers to further excel in their jobs. The key is not only to know how to benefit from technology, but where one could assist in developing it.

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

I truly believe in empowering people and giving them opportunity to showcase their abilities. In the context of business, this allows people to innovate and not be fearful of failure. I find this approach to have a significant positive impact on the business, from providing relevant initiatives to constantly delivering on goals.

What would you say are the unique qualities required to be successful as an in-house lawyer in your industry?

Nowadays, lawyers need to be businesspeople, as well as lawyers. I think it is insufficient to confine your role to giving legal advice, but rather you need to be more relevant to the business, by understanding its concerns and acting on their goals. I also think that lawyers will need to acquire skills that are wider that those of the legal world. Being technologically savvy, understanding the markets and looking beyond their comfort zone, are three things that I do, which allow me to further excel in my job. The more you have these skills, the more you are prepared to navigate through uncertain times. It is one thing to plan ahead, but unfortunately, we cannot predict the future. Its during times of uncertainty, you need to be agile and think about different ways of how you will achieve your goals, how to uplift the moral of your team and continue to be relevant. As such, you will need to offer more.

What can law firms do to improve their service to the legal department?

Law firms are like any other business, as the key is to understand their clients’ wishes. There is no right or wrong answer, but there are needs and demands. The more the law firm understands the client the more they can provide them with a better service.