Michael Pitzner  

Team size: Seven  

How do you approach managing legal aspects during periods of instability or crises, and how does your legal strategy align with the broader business strategy to ensure the organisation’s resilience?  

First and foremost, our approach is to stay calm. We try not to overreact to situations that are not yet crises and aim to be a calming force during actual crises. We strive to be both creative and agile in our approach to problem-solving, thinking outside the box to tackle any crisis situation effectively. Our actions are always fully aligned with the company’s strategy, as we are an integral part of defining it. We see ourselves as business partners rather than a back-office function, working across the business to connect different aspects of the strategy, especially during crises where our involvement may be more extensive.  

What emerging technologies do you see as having the most significant impact on the legal profession in the near future, and how do you stay updated on these developments?  

We are actively working on upscaling our use of AI technology, particularly in contract management. Last year, we implemented a new contract management tool with AI functions, which has been promising. We are still exploring its full potential and plan to focus more on AI integration in the coming year. Additionally, we are looking into AI applications in IP management and research to enhance efficiency. However, there are challenges, particularly regarding data privacy and security, that we need to address as we embrace these technologies.  

How do you prioritise diversity and inclusion within your legal department, and what initiatives have you implemented to foster a more inclusive and equitable work environment?  

While we have a quite diverse team, we are actively working to improve diversity at the company level. We have achieved a 50/50 gender balance within our legal team and promote a mix of ages and genders. Additionally, we offer flexible working arrangements to accommodate different lifestyles, which has proven beneficial for employee engagement. We have seen an increase in office attendance as people appreciate the social aspect of meeting colleagues, even with flexible working arrangements in place.