Team size : 12

How do you approach managing legal aspects during periods of instability or crisis to ensure the organisation’s resilience?

One of the most significant legal matters our team is currently handling involves a series of claims initiated by government authorities, asserting that online platforms should be held liable for the actions and transactions of third-party sellers operating on their sites. These claims argue that platforms are not merely passive intermediaries, but rather, are responsible for the activities and outcomes that arise from interactions between sellers and users.

This issue strikes at the core of the ongoing debate over the role and responsibility of digital platforms in today’s marketplace. While platforms are fundamentally designed to facilitate transactions and provide a secure, user-friendly environment, they are increasingly being targeted by regulators who appear to hold them accountable for the conduct of independent sellers. Our platform has consistently taken proactive steps to monitor seller behavior, remove harmful listings, and assist buyers throughout the transaction process to ensure a safe and reliable experience. However, despite these efforts, authorities have continued to pursue claims that attempt to attribute direct liability to the platform itself.

What is particularly concerning in this situation is the perceived intention behind the government’s actions. Rather than focusing on the root cause of the issues, namely, the misconduct of certain sellers, it seems the government is positioning the platform as a convenient scapegoat. This approach not only misrepresents the nature of platform operations but also risks setting a dangerous precedent that could have broader implications for the entire digital economy.

In response, our legal team has taken a dual-pronged approach. Firstly, we are steadfastly defending the company against these claims, drawing on strong legal arguments and precedents that affirm the platform’s role as an intermediary, not a principal in transactions. We are working closely with external counsel and relevant stakeholders to ensure that our legal defenses are robust, fact-based, and aligned with global best practices. In this regard, our legal team acts as the front-line defenders of the company, soldiers committed to protecting the organisation from unfair and unfounded liabilities.

At the same time, we recognise the importance of supporting our business teams to maintain full legal compliance while continuing to innovate and grow. We strive to be more than just a gatekeeper; we aim to be a trusted partner to the business, offering practical, forward-looking legal guidance that aligns with both regulatory expectations and commercial goals. By fostering a strong internal collaboration, we are able to anticipate legal risks, implement preventive measures, and help design platform features that enhance safety and accountability.

In conclusion, this case represents a critical moment for our platform and the broader industry. While the challenges are significant, they also present an opportunity to clarify the role of digital intermediaries, reinforce our commitment to responsible platform governance, and ultimately help shape fair and balanced regulatory standards for the future.

What strategies do you employ to ensure the successful digital transformation of a legal department while maintaining compliance with your country’s data protection laws?

To ensure a successful digital transformation of the legal team while maintaining privacy law compliance, start by assessing current workflows and identifying areas for improvement. Adopt a privacy-by-design approach, choosing secure, certified legal tech tools with strong data protection features. Implement clear data governance and access controls and regularly audit processes to stay compliant. Train the team on both digital tools and privacy regulations, encourage collaboration with IT and compliance departments, and begin with pilot projects before scaling. Finally, track performance through KPIs to measure efficiency and risk reduction.

Have you had any experiences during your career as a lawyer that stand out as particularly unique or interesting?

One particularly unique and defining experience in my legal career was serving as the sole in-house counsel for a leading chat platform in Thailand over a decade ago, during a time when digital and technology-related regulations were still in their infancy. Back then, with minimal legal frameworks governing online communication, content, and data, I had the rare opportunity—and challenge—of navigating uncharted legal territory. I was responsible for building foundational policies and making judgment calls in a landscape with little precedent, often relying on first principles and international best practices. Fast forward to today, the regulatory environment has become significantly more complex and demanding, with data privacy laws, content liability, and platform governance under intense scrutiny. The contrast between then and now has given me a deep understanding of regulatory evolution and shaped my ability to adapt, anticipate legal risk, and support the business through rapid change while ensuring compliance in a much tougher legal landscape.