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

Our latest upcoming project is the EV Subscription. The project will provide EV subscriptions alongside other services such as insurance and maintenance, all at affordable prices. Our target customers are on-demand riders or messengers and taxi drivers who travel long distances every day, and our services aim to save costs and eventually reduce household debt, especially shark loans. This project will play a key role in our net zero emissions in 2030 target. As commuters, our customers emit a lot of carbon; therefore, EVs can reduce a large amount of carbon emissions. We seek to play a part of the environmental improvement movements which will benefit the health of people for future generations.

The legal department supports the company’s affairs and is involved in all business plans. We prepare and draft all legal documentations and business agreements related to the project, provide support in recommending the right business model, analyse and mitigate all potential risks, and point out the various advantages and disadvantages.

Our team plays a leading role in accomplishing the strategic objectives of the platform; strategically driving change and improvement in business results through a deep understanding of legal and operational issues. We provide the highest degree of support through our expertise and solve important problems in a manner that is proactive, accessible, and responsive.

What technological advancements do you feel will impact the role of in-house legal teams in the future the most? Which have you found most useful in your legal team?

Over the past decades, numerous technological advancements have impacted and disrupted many fields and transformed the way we work. Documents can be translated at a much faster pace, and information can be accessed in a new manner. Accessible AI such as ChatGPT truly has potential to revolutionise various industries and many aspects of life across the globe.

AI-powered tools can automate repetitive legal tasks, such as legal research and contract review. This allows me to address more complex legal issue at hand, and the team can focus on higher-level work and become more productive.

Cloud computing is another breakthrough. Legal work could be done remotely during lockdowns; cloud computing allowed my team and I to access necessary data and collaborate with other team members from anywhere in the world.

To me, time is the most valuable asset in life. Utilising AI has helped my team and I to be more productive and effective. When time is of the essence, things can get stressful, but this addition has enhanced my way of working. For many NDAs or other standard contracts, AI will be a great assistant tool for my team.

Some people argue AI will negatively affect disrupt legal professionals. I strongly disagree. I do not feel threatened because it functions more as a tool to help me perform better in my career, and not as a replacement for my skill and competence.

As we enter the next decade, what skills will a corporate legal team need to succeed in the modern in-house industry?

It is critical to understand the industry you work in and its legal implications. Developing a multi-industry skill set is essential. Corporate legal teams also need to stay updated on regulatory changes, compliance issues, and the legal practices of each industry since the legal landscape itself is also constantly evolving. It is vital to keep updated on current changes in regulation which will impact our platform.

Other key skills for corporate legal teams are effective communication and collaboration. I work closely with cross-functional departments within the organisation to ensure that legal considerations are integrated into all Business Unit (BU) decisions. This requires a deep understanding of the business context, as well as strong interpersonal skills that enable us to effectively communicate complex legal concepts to stakeholders to ensure that legal issues are effectively and correctly addressed across the entire platform.

Lastly adapting to emerging technology is also important. Technology has disrupted and transformed the way we work in many ways. However, it is necessary to utilise it for further career advancement.