What are the most significant cases or transactions that your legal team has recently been involved in?

The legal team led strategic corporate expansion initiatives and orchestrated the acquisition of majority stakes in diverse financial services firms spanning insurance, pension, securities trading, development finance, and banking sectors. Notable transactions include leading the team of in-house lawyers that advised on the acquisition of a 60% interest in The Infrastructure Bank; the majority interest acquisition of International Energy Insurance, IEI Anchor Pensions (now Norrenberger Pensions), and TFS Securities (now Norrenberger Securities).

How have you attempted to bring the legal department closer to your business colleagues? 

As general counsel, I have brought the legal department closer to other departments by fostering collaboration, reducing friction, and creating a more unified team. This involved leading commenced cross-departmental training programs (particularly, how the law affects their transactions), working with legal liaisons for each department; holding regular interdepartmental meetings (bordering on the legal aspects of employer and employee relations); and creating legal education initiatives by sending periodic legal newsletters and “Did You Know?” legal facts from the legal unit.

I also established an open-door policy, improving communication with the rest of the business; aligned the legal department’s goals with overall business goals; created shared incentive structures to encourage collaboration and teamwork; and organised social events and team-building activities outside of work. This fosters personal connections and breaks down professional barriers, creating a relaxed atmosphere among team members.

The above strategies were used to create a more integrated and collaborative environment, ensuring that the legal department is not seen as a separate entity, but, rather, as an integral part of the overall business strategy and operations.

How does the in-house legal function contribute to the overall dispute resolution strategy of the organisation? 

The in-house legal function contributes to the organisation’s dispute resolution strategy by preparing watertight contracts that anticipate potential issues and minimise ambiguities, reducing the likelihood of future disputes. The team creates clear and comprehensive policies on various matters, to help prevent legal violations and establishes standardised protocols for handling potential disputes internally. Furthermore, employee training and education on legal compliance, conflict resolution techniques, and internal reporting procedures empowers them to handle minor issues effectively and escalate serious concerns at the right time.

Another way the team contributes to this strategy is by recommending Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) methods like mediation and arbitration to resolve disputes efficiently and amicably. They also guide negotiation processes with opposing parties, aiming to reach fair and mutually beneficial settlements that avoid or limit costly litigation. When litigation becomes necessary, the in-house legal team manages the process in collaboration with external legal counsel.

How much influence do you, as a general counsel, have on the diversity and inclusion policies of your organisation? 

My influence as a general counsel, on diversity and inclusion policies is significant, and is exerted through the following ways:

As a key member of the management team, I have considerable influence on shaping and advancing diversity and inclusion initiatives, ensuring that the management team and staff members are comprised and drawn from competent people from various social identity groups and diverse ethnicities.

Collaborating with HR and leadership teams for policy development and review ensures that staff members are not discriminated in any manner, owing to sex, religion, ethics, social or political inclinations.

I am also the company secretary, and therefore, report directly to the board of directors. I was responsible for obtaining approval for the board and organisation diversity policy and was also able to advocate for board-level commitment to D&I initiatives.

By leveraging my position and influence as general counsel, I contribute to creating a workplace that values diversity, promotes inclusion, and ultimately enhances organisational success.