Team size: 40

What are the most significant cases and transactions that your legal team has recently been involved in?

The most significant transactions include the M&Atransaction that we completed recently, which involved a large number of workstreams of merger control across a number of jurisdictions as well as de-listing. Our legal team also successfully handled a competition law issue having been at play since 2009. This case came before the French Competition Authority.

How do you feel the pandemic has changed the world of work for in-house counsel and the function of the general counsel?

The COVID-19 pandemic has been an epic stress test for governments, societies, institutions, companies, and individuals while outstripping the impact of the 2008 financial crisis. The general counsel and their in-house legal colleagues have been in the middle of this stressful situation since the beginning of the pandemic. This experience emphasised the importance of solid teamwork, good communication, process effectiveness, and investment in digital technology. Above all, the investments in digital process are now paying off in the areas of cybersecurity, workflow management, digital communication, and electronic signature.

What will be the main focus for the company in the next 12 months and how do you intend to assist with this?

The main focus for the company will be managing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the business and people whilst working on bringing people together in the company.

What do you feel are the pros and cons of an in-house legal role compared to a private practice one?

The pros of an in-house legal role are the opportunities to closely participate in the company’s business and the ability to make a real impact on the strategic business decisions. The cons to be an in-house legal counsel are the continuous lack of time and resources and the need to juggle a number of requests for support in their organisation. Given that the regulatory frameworks are increasingly becoming more complicated and riskier, for their work in risk avoidance and containment, in-house lawyers have an additional challenge of demonstrating their value in their company.