What has been the number one challenge that has impacted you over the past year?

SERV is an innovative registry, technology and data insights company. We hold a 40-year concession from the Victorian government to administer registry services for the Victorian Land Registry. Being quite new in my role, my number one challenge has been obtaining a working knowledge of our very detailed concession deed and regulatory framework and understanding the responsibility that comes with holding and safeguarding the data contained in the Victorian Land Registry.

Looking forward, what technological advancements do you feel will impact the role of in-house legal teams in the future the most?

I expect that access to artificial intelligence and other new technologies will impact the role of in-house legal teams by automating low risk contract reviews and assisting with legal research.

New technological tools will improve the legal operational data insights that legal teams can collect to inform legal process improvements. These tools will also help teams to more efficiently and effectively collaborate with their internal clients to achieve business outcomes while managing legal risk.

On the flip side, technological advancements will also mean increased collection of business and personal data and with this comes increased responsibility to properly manage and protect this data. Cyber security, privacy and data governance will continue to be areas of focus by management and Boards, and in-house teams will need to keep on top of regulatory changes and continue to develop their expertise in these areas.

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

Successful in-house lawyers require a diverse and unique skill set to convey complex legal concepts to business teams and to apply these concepts to business problems while sensibly managing legal risk. This skill set includes excellent communication, project management, influencing skills and an ability to obtain an in-depth understanding of their company’s strategy, operations and risk threshold.

In-house lawyers also need to be able to recognise where they can truly add value and know when to step out of issues. Collaboration and relationship building with business teams is critical in earning credibility and trust.