About

‘As someone who is helping shape Lazada’s company approach to law and regulation, I sit at the convergence of two big themes in the future economy – technology companies and the ever-increasing complexity of law and regulation’, says Gladys Chun, general counsel and head of government affairs at Lazada. She considers herself ‘one of the new breed of general counsel’ that are at the forefront of the technological revolution that is sweeping the business world, and provides some detail as to how other in-house counsel can emulate the same level of success in this area. ‘Working in a highly charged, fast paced environment that is continuously changing, I’m tasked to deal not only with the business, but also with uncertainties in a legal environment that is also challenged by technological advancements that some may perceive as disruptors’, she says. ‘I have to think pragmatically, adapt and ensure that risks are managed whilst also allowing the business to seize opportunities and anticipate what the business may need to future-proof itself. This is particularly important in the context of a technology company as the relevant laws in respect of the use of technology and in particular, data, are constantly evolving’. When discussing the most important transactions she has worked on, Chun mentions her role in the US$1bn acquisition by Alibaba of majority shareholding in Lazada, the biggest Southeast Asia acquisition made by Alibaba in 2016. ‘It was a complex undertaking which involved 22 existing investors from different jurisdictions, application of bridge loans granted to Lazada during negotiations, a sophisticated put/call arrangement, a highly complex management incentive and liquidity plan and negotiation over warranty insurance and anti-trust regulations in several markets which Lazada was operating’, Chun says. Ultimately, Chun believes that the most important change she has made to the operation of the legal team is ‘embracing and leveraging technology. The Lazada team has developed and launched several types of automated and self-help legal and compliance portals to render more efficient the speed at which business units can self-remedy for routine legal issues’.