Team size: 23

Key team members: Natasha Sulaiman, Richard Hewett, Andrew Lee, Cindy Er, Freddy Lim, Muhd Nizam Aziz and Piyush Gupta.

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

The SIA legal team is responsible for the management of all global legal and regulatory matters within SIA, including advising on a wide array of commercial ventures, disputes management, aircraft and engineering transactions, financings, as well as compliance with relevant regulations such as those pertaining to anti-corruption, consumer protection, data privacy and sanctions.

Could you share an example of a time when you came up with an innovation that improved how your legal team works and did not come at a large expense?

We have developed a very large internal knowledge database of templates and precedents for skills-development and process efficiencies within the team. This has come at very little cost but contributes enormously to improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the provision of legal services by the team.

Can you sum up the team culture or ethos?

The team culture at SIA Legal is highly collegiate and collaborative. We take pride in fostering a close-knit and inclusive environment where each team member’s contribution and expertise is valued. Communication flows freely across all levels and both in formal and informal settings, enabling us to share insights, brainstorm solutions and strategise. We empower our people and promote an environment of mutual trust and respect, so that we may better support their personal and professional growth and aspirations.

How does the in-house legal team contribute to the overall dispute resolution strategy of the organisation?

SIA Legal plays a pivotal role in SIA’s dispute resolution strategy. With our experience and deep understanding of the unique nature of the airline industry, we are an integral part of crafting effective dispute resolution strategies from the outset. Our team collaborates closely with our business colleagues to provide guidance on navigating actual and potential disputes, and always with an eye to achieving practical solutions. Our contribution extends beyond resolving disputes; we actively work to prevent potential conflicts through robust contract drafting and review, risk assessment and compliance measures.