What are the most significant cases, projects, or transactions that you and your legal team have recently been involved in?

Over the past year, Allianz Austria’s legal team has supported a broad range of matters across insurance law, insurance regulatory and supervisory law, as well as civil and corporate law. We provide advice on governance and corporate actions, including General Meetings and Supervisory Board matters, support regulatory change initiatives and interactions with supervisory authorities, and manage complex contractual and dispute-related issues. We work closely with all business functions to deliver pragmatic, risk-based legal advice that supports the organisation’s strategic objectives.

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

In times of instability, we focus on the key legal matters and on disciplined implementation. Clear prioritisation becomes even more critical during periods of instability or crisis: it has to be ensured that the most material issues are addressed first.

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

A modern in-house counsel must understand the business—its objectives, how value is created, and how opportunities can be pursued. Equally important is a clear view of the risks the business faces and how they can be mitigated. The role is to translate between business realities and the legal framework, and to turn complex rules into clear, practical steps and recommendations that enable sound decision-making.

General counsel often speak of the need to be strategic to reach the pinnacle of the profession. What does being strategic mean to you?

Being strategic means understanding the commercial objectives, anticipating the regulatory landscape, and framing choices in terms of risks and options. A strategic GC simplifies complex issues into clear recommendations, builds alignment early with key stakeholders, and designs pragmatic solutions that prevent issues before they arise.