Group general counsel | Alpega
Philip Pauser
Group general counsel | Alpega
What are the key projects that you have been involved in over the past 12 months?
The main focus in the last 12 months has been preparing the business of my corporate group for the upcoming changes to the regulatory framework. As we are active in the information technology sector, the Network and Information Security Directive 2 (NIS-2), the AI Act, and the Data Act will have significant consequences for information technology companies, both legally and business-wise. For each of these upcoming laws (NIS-2, AI Act, and Data Act), cross-department task forces were formed to gain a holistic view of the new legal and technical requirements, as well as the necessary steps to implement these requirements in the most practical and efficient way.
Have you had any experiences during your career as a lawyer that stand out as particularly unique or interesting?
Probably the experience that stands out most was a banking IT outsourcing deal in a CEE country, which I managed and negotiated as lead lawyer. It was the first deal of its kind ever in that country, so in a way, my team and I made legal history. With no specific applicable statutory or case law, and no precedent to rely on, we were able to carry out creative and innovative pioneer legal work.
What do you think are the most important attributes for a modern in-house counsel to possess?
Besides solid legal knowledge, an in-house counsel needs strong deal management skills, the ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with non-lawyers, and a good understanding of the products, services, and market in which the company operates. The more one understands the ‘business’ and the non-legal matters that are important to the company, the better and more effective an in-house counsel becomes.
Based on your experiences in the past year, are there any trends in the legal or business world that you are keeping an eye on, of which you think other in-house lawyers should be mindful?
As for the last couple of years, the disruptive consequences and changes brought by AI for the business itself but also for the work as in-house lawyers remain a key trend, if not the key trend, not just for the information technology sector but across all industries. It is essential to stay open and embrace both the challenges and the opportunities that AI will bring.
General counsel | Alpega Group
General counsel | Alpega Group
