Key team members: Nichayada Ragkhitwetsagul, Panu Muanpetch, Luxsiri Supakijjanusorn, Jakarin Parncharoen, Jirawat Chukumnerd, Kritsanaphol Kaewsakorn, Natarit Rittipichayanant, Pornsawan Apichaisiri, Suttiphan Desprasert

Can you sum up the team culture or ethos, and give us a breakdown of what makes your legal team function so well?

Teamwork and lean practices have ingrained themselves deeply within our team’s culture. These days, the role of an in-house legal counsel has extended beyond traditional legal tasks. It balances the need to comprehend the business intricacies well enough to pre-empt potential risks, while also wielding legal expertise to offer solutions that go beyond legal advice. What adds an extra layer of complexity to our role is the size of our team.

Given the expanse of our company’s wholesale and food service operations, spanning across 10 countries in the Asian and Middle Eastern regions, yielding an annual revenue of US$7bn, our team comprises a compact yet outstanding team of eight legal professionals. The nature of wholesale business is fast paced and dynamic. That being the case, our role is multifaceted and encompassing a diverse array of responsibilities. These include, but are not limited to, legal advisory, contract drafting and negotiation, regulatory compliance, litigation and dispute resolution, intellectual property, labour and employment matter, M&A, and risk management for Thailand and overseas operations, among other required tasks.

We believe a team is about bringing together a diverse skill sets, experiences, and perspectives to work together aiming to offer the best results within the constraints of limited resources. Although, each team member is assigned to tasks according to their expertise and experience, collaboration efforts and implementation of lean practice have consistently constituted a strong foundation for our team. There is no redundancy in our roles. The tasks assigned and how we manage within have empowered each and every member of the team to deliver their best work from end to end, while at the same time tailoring to the business needs.

Effective communication is always in place and collaborative environment is encouraged. We encourage that questions and comments to be raised openly to explore alternatives, particularly when any team member faces challenges while performing their duties. We do not simply adhere to traditional practices, rather; we keep an open mind and be willing to pivot when necessary, recognising that wholesale business landscape is constantly evolving and changing.

Our way of working allows for increased visibility and fosters an environment where team members can learn about each other’s strengths and abilities. This, in turn, cultivates an atmosphere of teamwork, mutual learning and a genuine recognition of the diverse knowledge and skills that everyone brings to the table. From our perspective, it’s not the sheer number of individuals that comprises our team; rather, it is the way we work together determines the way we succeed.