Team size:  10

Key Team members:  Allan Verman Ong, Senior vice president, assistant general counsel 

What are the most significant cases or transactions that you have recently been involved in? 

My team and I are responsible for global legal matters, from regulatory compliance in China, data localisation issues in India, negotiating complex software and data licensing agreements governed by New York law and English law, to crafting global privacy and AI policies. This work requires detailed knowledge of the laws of various jurisdictions, the ability to select and effectively partner with outside counsel, creative problem solving and understanding our business needs. 

In addition, what works in one jurisdiction does not work in all others. For example, we have had to deal with intellectual property infringement cases in China. Said cases would be relatively easy to dispose of in the United States and other countries with similar IP rights regimes. However, due to the legal system being different in China, we have had to rely on technology to prevent infringement, rather than being able to rely on commercial platforms to restrain such breach or seek injunctions. 

How do you see the general counsel role evolving in the Philippines over the next five-ten years? 

Like FactSet’s experience, more multinational companies will realise the value and ability that Philippine lawyers bring to the table. These companies will find that building legal teams in the Philippines and giving said teams global and regional responsibilities is an effective and cost-effective means of meeting business needs. The general counsels of these teams will enjoy the opportunity to have a global legal practice from the Philippines. However, among the challenges that said general counsels will face are the need to constantly upskill on global legal developments, the reality that such legal teams will need to work with internal and external stakeholders that expect synchronous responses to queries, and the ability to continue to meaningfully advance one’s career in a company that is not headquartered in the Philippines. 

How do you motivate and manage your legal team well? 

I motivate my team supporting them and ensuring that they will be in a position where they can succeed. This includes mentoring them, advocating for them to receive external training and certifications, giving them stretch assignments and delegating the power to make decisions, celebrating wins, and providing coaching when faced with challenges. I also aim to be clear about our most important priorities. I believe that if my team is clear about what I expect and they trust that I will support them whatever the result, then my team can do their best work.