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

We strongly believe in-house lawyers create value for the organisation, and we build business partnership relations with all areas of the business, to pre-empt, counsel and address threats posed to the company’s strategies. Our mission is to deliver best-in-class legal services and act as trusted business advisers to the internal business partners, helping to achieve strategic priorities.

Notably, in the last year, we provided legal leadership and guidance on several new product launches, finding creative legal solutions that met the business objectives. We also supported the implementation of several sustainability related initiatives, including the Single-Use Plastic Directive.

Why are in-house lawyers well-placed to drive change within their organisations?

In-house lawyers are extremely well placed to drive change, especially when they create meaningful business partnerships with their internal clients. However, lawyers are usually known for their resistance to change and innovation. In-house legal departments that adapt and are proactive and possess thorough knowledge of the business, are very well equipped to anticipate changes, prepare and overcome obstacles, and embrace opportunities.

As we live in a fast-paced world today, what skills will a corporate legal team need to succeed in the modern in-house industry?

Corporate legal teams now provide input on the most relevant strategic plans. Hence, they need to develop strong and effective relationships within the corporation, while maintaining professional independence.

Legal teams also need to develop and maintain a culture of continuous learning, to be able to track new legislative initiatives in an increasingly complex political and regulatory environment. This is a prerequisite to identifying risks, changes and future opportunities.

Being able to leverage legal knowledge and expertise throughout the organisation is also needed to foster a common understanding of legal issues and risks. In line with this, legal teams need to invest in soft skills, such as effective communication, negotiation and leadership.