What are the most significant cases or transactions that you have been involved in over the past year?

Given that cement is a difficult to abate sector, exiting our significant investment in Siam City Cement in August 2024 was part of our capital allocation strategy and an endeavor to rebalance our portfolio – making it less carbon intensive. Very much a sustainability in action transaction that addresses ESG elements.

Based on your experience, what is the key to collaborating successfully with business partners?

Having a seat at the table and building trust are key elements for successful collaboration with business partners. This requires an understanding of the commercial considerations, practical legal advice and a high level of pragmatism.

Apart from legal matters, has the team worked on other company initiatives you would like to highlight?

Workplace mental health is an area of increasing importance – especially in light of remote working – and there is a need for leaders of corporations to recognize this, promote greater awareness around mental health and provide the requisite support structure through normalising conversations around mental health and having adequate Employee Assistance Programs.

The legal teams at Jardines have been intimately involved in leading this: In Singapore, I lead the Group’s mental health charity and programs through Jardines MINDSET and my counterpart at the JM Group level in HK does the same through his Board role in the sister charity, MINDSET HK.