Team size: 2

What are the projects that you are most proud of working on over the past 12 months?

Over the past 12 months, I have had the opportunity to work on projects that I am particularly proud of. Internally, I led a project focused on improving our processes related to contract management and administration. By streamlining these processes, we have made it significantly easier for our business units to explain and manage contracts with their clients. This initiative has not only enhanced efficiency but also strengthened our client relationships.

Additionally, I played a major role in various contract negotiations, contributing significantly to securing favorable deals for our organisation. These negotiations have resulted in substantial benefits, advancing our strategic goals and reinforcing our market position.

What do you think sets you apart from other in-house counsel?

What I think sets me apart from other in-house counsel, is my understanding of the business, pragmatic approach and always having clear and supportive advice. These insights allow me to identify and address key aspects that need to be agreed upon with clients. By working closely with the business, I handle contract negotiations and relieve them of contractual burdens, ensuring seamless collaboration.

Prioritising effective communication between our organisation and clients is essential to my approach. I make it a point to ensure that clients feel heard and understood, often accompanying business representatives to client meetings to provide explanations. Consequently, I sometimes serve as the first point of contact for our clients, fostering strong relationships.

I strive to make every interaction, whether internal or external, approachable and open. I believe that humor can be an integral part of our collaboration, creating a pleasant and productive.

Based on your experiences in the past year, are there any trends in the legal or business world that you are keeping an eye on, of which you think other in-house lawyers should be mindful?

Based on my experiences over the past year, there are a couple of trends that I believe in-house lawyers should be particularly mindful of. Firstly, the role of AI is becoming increasingly significant, not only in legal work but across various business areas. It’s important for lawyers to develop a basic understanding of AI and how it can be leveraged in their practice.

Secondly, environmental and sustainability concerns are becoming critical components of contracts. As businesses strive to meet their environmental goals, in-house counsel will need to ensure that contractual agreements contribute to the sustainability objectives throughout the supply chain.

What is a cause, business or otherwise, that you are passionate about?

I work for a company that provides diagnostics in healthcare, which I think is the foundation of effective treatment. As an in-house counsel, I indirectly contribute to this mission and always keep the patient’s well-being as the ultimate goal. Everyone deserves timely and quality healthcare when needed. This is a cause I am deeply passionate about.