Team size: 53

What are the key projects that you have been involved in over the past 12 months?

Two of the key projects I have been involved in during the last 12 months are: the €2.3bn sale of Liberty’s European retail insurance operations to Generali and the $1.7bn sale of Liberty’s retail insurance operations to HDI/Talanx; and advising on the implementation of an updated Third-Party Anti-Corruption Due Diligence Policy to ensure compliance of various Asia Pacific group companies with the US Foreign CYorrupt Practices Act and UK Bribery Act.

What do you think are the most important attributes for a modern in-house counsel to possess?

I think one of the most fundamental attributes for any modern in-house counsel is having a solution-focused attitude, which results in Legal being seen by the business as a supportive and value-adding business partner that is actively sought out – rather than being “navigated” or, worse still, avoided altogether. That said, judgement and experience are also key in order to strike the right balance between a solution-focused approach that supports the business in reaching its objectives and the need to protect the business from excessive legal risk. Being a clear communicator is also a key quality – i.e. having the ability to act as a “translator” who can distil complex legal concepts into easy-to-understand language so that legal advice is easily accessible to a non-legal audience. Finally, understanding the business of the company you work for is particularly important and allows in-house counsel to add another dimension to their advice, so that executives have confidence that Legal really “gets” the business and the rationale that lies behind business objectives.