Could you share an example of a time when you came up with an innovation that improved how your legal team works and did not come at a large expense?  

Yes, I developed a set of templates and teamwork solutions including considering latest best practices. 

How do you balance your responsibilities as a GC with your involvement in dispute resolution and M&A matters?   

Time management is key along with having the right resources and time allocation. I deploy the needed requirements and resources based on the exposure and the need of the transaction, taking into consideration the efficiency and proper time management. We also work under Kaizen concept which Japanese word means continuous improvement. 

Can you foresee any key developments to the way general counsel work over the next five years?   

Yes, I do — technology will play major role on driving the process  

What measures has your company taken to embed sustainability practices into its core business operations, and how does the role of the general counsel contribute to driving and ensuring sustainable practices within the company?   

We adopted the innovation and digitisation concept with the ambition to excel towards a better future. The CLO plays an integral role in the company plans, especially in ringfencing the risks and contributing to the strategy of the company.  

What emerging technologies do you see as having the most significant impact on the legal profession in the near future, and how do you stay updated on these developments?  

I believe AI will be a major one; I am partnering with our digital and IT team to address the new developments and to embed what is needed in our future preparation. I am also keen to participate in several conferences and being in contact with technology leaders to be updated on industry developments and changes. 

How do you prioritise diversity and inclusion within your legal department, and what initiatives have you implemented to foster a more inclusive and equitable work environment?  

I had selected the team based on different experience levels where juniors can benefit from the seniors and seniors can delegate assignments to juniors. In addition to creating a hub for legal services, all our senior team will delegate the day-to-day matters to such a team and focus on more strategic matters. 

Can you discuss a particularly challenging dispute or M&A scenario you encountered and the innovative strategies you implemented to address it?  

One of the challenges is to ensure that any correspondents related to the newly onboarded transaction are automatically shared with the business and legal and hence created a system of info sharing and email forwarding mechanism to stay on top of things.