Career Biography

With over 20 years of both in-house counsel and private practice, Aleksandra is an IBM Senior Counsel and a qualified Polish Attorney-at-Law. She leads legal support for IBM’s resell business with its Business Partners at the worldwide level. She advises on complex, cross-border strategic and commercial matters within IBM’s global operations. In 2023, she was recognised as General Counsel of the Year by the Polish Association of In-House Lawyers (Lider Prawników Przedsiębiorstw 2023).

Previously, Aleksandra served as General Counsel for IBM Poland and the Baltics, Compliance Officer for IBM in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), and CEE Market Counsel, where she led a team of more than 30 lawyers across 29 countries. Her legal experience covers transactional work, including large-scale commercial agreements and divestitures, as well as litigation, employment law, and regulatory matters. She has played a key advisory role in the delivery of transformational projects across the region.

Before joining IBM in 2006, Aleksandra practised law at CMS in Warsaw and London. She holds a law degree from Poland, completed studies in arbitration in the Netherlands, and postgraduate studies in business management at the Warsaw School of Economics. She is a member of the Warsaw Bar Association of Attorneys-at-Law and is actively engaged as an international mentor, including through the European Company Lawyers Association (ECLA). She regularly speaks at business and legal conferences, including on AI and the future of the legal profession, and is based in Poland.

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

I am a Senior Counsel in IBM’s legal team, supporting IBM’s business with the Partner ecosystem at a worldwide level, and the lead global lawyer for IBM’s relationships with Partners distributing and reselling our offerings in more than 170 countries.

Over the past twelve months, my work has focused primarily on providing strategic legal support to the global IBM Partner Program, pricing models, incentives, and benefits, as well as transformation projects spanning multiple geographies. I have also been closely involved in supporting the closing of complex transactions within the Partner ecosystem.

In addition, I have led initiatives aimed at simplifying global processes and enabling both the business and legal teams. By way of example, I oversaw the global implementation of AI-enabled Legal Tips for Sellers, designed to identify key legal considerations and provide practical solutions that support business objectives while maintaining high standards of competition law, compliance, and integrity. I work closely with multidisciplinary teams of lawyers and business stakeholders across IBM to deliver these projects.

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

In my view, a modern in-house counsel is successful when their advice is actively sought by the business. Achieving this requires becoming an integral part of teams working on strategic initiatives and transactions. This is how trust is built and the role of legal as a business enabler, exercising sound judgement, is reinforced.

Technological fluency, including AI capability, is now an essential attribute, alongside a strong understanding of the ethical, regulatory, and security implications of these tools. At the same time, the core fundamentals of the role remain unchanged. Impact comes from combining legal excellence with strong business acumen, a proactive and adaptable mindset, ruthless prioritisation, and the ability to build strong relationships.

Continuous learning is a critical competitive advantage, particularly in the technology sector. Staying close to industry trends and regulatory developments is essential. I place significant value on the exchange of perspectives with peers, including through speaking engagements, most recently as a panellist on AI and the future of the legal profession at the Polish Legal Transformation Forum 2025.

AI is increasingly being integrated into legal teams to maximise efficiency. How can in-house counsel ensure the successful incorporation of these tools without compromising the human element?

Advances in AI, particularly generative AI, are transforming the delivery of legal services, to the benefit of both the profession and clients. The use of AI tools brings significant gains in efficiency, consistency, and speed, enabling lawyers to focus on higher-value strategic work and client relationships. The emergence of AI agents further allows for solutions tailored to the specific needs of individual lawyers and legal teams.

At the same time, AI is intended to augment human intelligence, not replace it. Successful integration requires more than the deployment of technology; it demands a deliberate, human-centred approach that preserves professional judgement and ethical responsibility. Education and clear guidance are essential, as accountability for legal advice remains with lawyers.

In-house counsel can draw on guidance from a range of sources, including technology providers and professional legal associations. In Poland, a useful reference point is the 2025 recommendations of the National Council of Attorneys-at-Law (KIRP), which provide a practical framework for the responsible use of AI in legal practice.