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

Increased focus on regulatory change seems to be a theme across APAC, and particularly Thailand – which is taking an increasing amount of time, focus and energy. We have observed a material “up-tick” in more impactful new regulation across the region and have had to take a more proactive and programmatic view to anticipate and defend against these new developments. We have had, therefore, to refocus on future proofing for upcoming legislation (e.g. DMA, DSA, PEA etc.) by way of undertaking deep dives across a number of our core markets – reviewing everything from consumer to data privacy to payments. This required deep collaboration with external counsel, our tech teams and government affairs team – to ensure we created a robust, effective and diligent future proofing plan.

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

In a crisis, I follow three core principles: remain calm, be clear, and stay sharply focused on prioritisation. At the outset, my priority is to assess the situation quickly and calmly—considering the broader landscape as well as emerging risks—and to provide clear, actionable advice to leadership. This supports informed decision-making under pressure.

Next, it is crucial to gain a deep understanding of the prioritisation requirements—identifying where the risk, loss or damage may crystallise, and focusing efforts on what truly matters. These priorities must then be clearly communicated, so that everyone involved shares a common “north star” and there is no ambiguity regarding the direction of travel.

Following this, the key is to develop a plan, communicate it effectively, and be ready to adapt. Agility is essential—I adjust strategies as new information comes to light, while consistently upholding the highest standards of integrity, especially during times of crisis.

Once the crisis has passed, it is vital to reflect—conducting a thorough post-mortem of what occurred, what went well, what didn’t, and how we might improve or approach things differently in the future. Reflection, transparency and honesty in these sessions are crucial to driving progress across the organisation. Never let a good crisis go to waste—there are always valuable lessons to be learnt.

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

One of the most transformative experiences of my legal career was making the leap from a legal role into a business leadership position for several years—an opportunity that ultimately led me to New Delhi, where I managed a team of 45 people across the APAC region.

After several years within a bank’s legal team, I was offered the chance to step into a business role with responsibility for shaping, implementing and delivering the strategic plan for seven diverse businesses, with an operating budget of over £400 million and approximately 3,500 staff. This transition was both exhilarating and daunting, as it required leaving behind the familiar world of law to immerse myself fully in a commercial environment—one that was, in many ways, as far removed from legal work as possible. The experience pushed me to develop new capabilities in management, strategic thinking and leadership, while giving me a deeper, more practical understanding of the business from the inside out. I learned how to navigate complex commercial issues, build cross-functional relationships, and gain a true appreciation of what matters when it comes to risk.

This opportunity fundamentally altered how I approach my role as a lawyer, how I engage with stakeholders, and how I provide advice. It gave me a much clearer sense of what is genuinely important to the business and how best to tailor my guidance. It reinforced the value of stepping beyond traditional boundaries, embracing new challenges, and viewing legal expertise as a foundation for broader leadership. It remains an experience that continues to inform my approach to problem-solving, collaboration, and delivering value.