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

The registration and legal structuring of organisational operations in Syria (ongoing); the adaptation of the operational model and internal policies of the Kenya office to evolving local regulations governing public benefit organisations, while ensuring continued alignment with HQ compliance standards; the development of global AML policies applicable across multiple jurisdictions (Poland, Ukraine, Yemen, Somalia, South Sudan, Kenya, Madagascar), ensuring operational effectiveness while meeting minimum statutory requirements under Polish law; and a global project to standardise HR procedures for expatriates, from recruitment and onboarding procedures to work regulations and policies ensuring minimum maternity benefits for expatriates regardless of their country of origin and place of work (primarily through ensuring compliance with labor law and GDPR).

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

A modern in-house counsel must have an in-depth understanding of the industry in which the organisation operates, including the specific legal, regulatory, and operational risks inherent to that sector.

Equally important is flexibility and openness to non-obvious legal solutions that enable the continuation of activities even in unfavorable or uncertain legal environments, while maintaining an acceptable risk profile.

Effective in-house counsel must also be able to integrate compliance mechanisms across the entire organisational structure, rather than confining responsibility to legal, compliance, or audit functions alone.

Finally, they must be capable of sensitising the organisation to legal and compliance risks by fostering awareness, accountability, and clear escalation pathways, so that staff understand both how to respond to issues and when escalation is required.

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

One particularly distinctive aspect of my career has been advising organisations operating in high-risk and legally complex environments, including conflict-affected and fragile jurisdictions. I have been directly involved in establishing operations, adapting governance and compliance frameworks where local regulation was evolving or unclear, and managing legal risk in the context of donor-funded projects. These experiences required balancing strict compliance obligations with operational realities, and they shaped my approach to pragmatic, risk-based legal decision-making.