How do you approach managing legal aspects during periods of instability or crises, and how does your legal strategy align with the broader business strategy to ensure the organisation’s resilience?

Managing legal aspects during periods of instability or crises involves a multifaceted and proactive approach. Our legal strategy is integrated with our broader business objectives to ensure resilience and continuity. We always begin by implementing comprehensive crisis management plans that include detailed legal risk assessments and scenario planning. Our legal team works closely with other departments, ensuring that legal considerations are factored into all decision-making processes. We emphasise the importance of clear communication channels and real-time legal advice to navigate crises effectively. By aligning our legal strategy with the company’s overall strategic goals, we can anticipate potential legal challenges and mitigate risks promptly. This alignment ensures that we not only respond efficiently during crises but also strengthen our organisational resilience in the long term.

How have you integrated technology into your legal processes, and what impact has this had on efficiency and compliance?

Our bespoke in-house developed case management system will be crucial in addressing the issues of missed hearings, scheduling, and case management. Currently, no major case management systems in the market can integrate with the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s transaction notification system, which relies on WhatsApp notifications. We are in the final stages of operationalising the case management solution linked to WhatsApp, and we are building the complete interpretation logic to read and translate the messages from the legal WhatsApp Business account. WhatsApp messages received from the MOJ will be forwarded to the in-house developed case management system, which will then automatically translate Arabic messages into English, create an entry in a live database that will be visible to the legal team and individual business leadership, allocate new cases by the general counsel to a lawyer – ensuring that subsequent incoming messages automatically cascade to the concerned lawyer – auto-schedule meetings and hearings, and notify relevant functions and verticals, as well as leaders, depending on the content of the notification.

What do you see as the major legal challenges for businesses in the region over the next five years, and how are you preparing to address them?

Looking ahead, businesses in our region are likely to face several significant legal challenges over the next five years, with key issues including evolving regulatory frameworks and heightened scrutiny of environmental, social, and governance practices. To address these challenges, we are adopting a proactive and forward-thinking approach by closely monitoring regulatory developments and engaging with policymakers to stay informed and influence outcomes. Furthermore, we are investing in continuous training and development programmes to ensure our legal team remains abreast of emerging legal requirements and industry best practices. We are also strengthening our compliance frameworks to protect our data and maintain stakeholder trust. By anticipating these challenges and preparing strategically, we aim to navigate the future legal landscape with confidence and agility.