First, can you please give us an idea of the sort of work your team has done recently?

As part of an international and renowned hospitality group, where my responsibilities and roles range from the formation, organization and structuring of the legal department, I have led  a multitude of transactions and relevant projects linked to the restructuring and expansion of the company’s businesses. I have been involved in several important transactions requiring the expertise and cognisance in matters, such as general corporate and compliance, on an international level.

During the pandemic, access to certain local and international resources, as well as public and private institutions was limited. This was due to the restrictions imposed by the local and international authorities to comply with health and safety requirements. Certain transactions, involving several jurisdictions, have represented an interesting challenge to reinvent how things are being done, in the completion of deals, in due time.

What would you say are the unique qualities required to be successful as an in-house lawyer in your industry?

Enterprises and clients expect from in-house, an honest and proven understanding of their business, as well as high quality legal skills. The combination of an increased legal proficiency, with business and industry experience, allows for better examining any prospect requirements and developing the correct approach for any specific matter. To this extent, tailored solutions can be provided with the correct approach, awareness of the business changes, due to internal and external factors, and the provision of a proper guidance. In-house lawyers must bring together all the areas and consolidate their means and resources, as well as coordinating with law firms to make them understand the business, in line with the objectives of senior management, reflected in the operational and administrative day-to-day, as well as in the short and long-term goals, in order to achieve the desired results.

How do you suggest in-house lawyers build strong relationships with business partners?

As professionals and experienced in any specific field, we need to care about the quality of our services and meet the expectations in any project, while staying loyal to our principles and ethics. Adapting to the temporary needs required in each project, it is essential to work proactively and effectively, helping our business partners, the organisation and clients to achieve their goals.

It is important for any in-house lawyer to increase their experience in their area of practice. The use of this experience with assertiveness in the different type of multi-national transactions, where multiple business partners with different interests meet to achieve a common goal, undoubtedly will result in a successful and rewarding transaction for all parties involved. This will make in-houses more capable of offering an effective response to whatever may be requested, in a specific matter or subject.