Team size: five

Could you share an example of a time when you came up with an innovation that improved the way your legal team works and did not come at a huge cost?

There are several examples in which our legal team have innovated to achieve a positive result in the office, however I remember one example where it was extremely complicated to calculate the days of expiry on our tax law cases because we had so many. Together with the systems team we developed a file which we called the “Tax Deadlines Calculator” where you enter the start of the process and the dates of notification, and it automatically calculates the due dates for both administrative and judicial legal proceedings. Even today, we continue to use the file as it is an essential tool to view the legal cases.

What are some of the key developments that have affected your business over the past year?

We have faced geopolitically challenges that have prevented us from being able to export to other continents, which has made us rethink our legal and export strategies in order to comply with international agreements. On the other hand, we are also challenged with the considerable number of regulations that are being created to make private businesspeople pay higher taxes and to incur more expenses on imports.

How do you think the internal legal role will evolve in the coming years?

I believe that the in-house legal role will be essential in the coming years for the safe development of the company, as it will have to focus on performing many essential tasks. The first being increased focus on compliance. As regulations and laws continue to evolve and become more complex, the internal legal role is expected to focus increasingly on ensuring compliance. This involves monitoring and ensuring that the company complies with all applicable laws and regulations and establishing internal compliance programmes.

Second, risk management, the in-house legal role may evolve to include greater involvement in risk management. This involves identifying and assessing the legal risks associated with the company’s operations and developing strategies to mitigate them. In-house lawyers will have to work closely with other departments to ensure that appropriate measures are taken to minimise risks.

With the increased concerns surrounding privacy and data protection, the in-house legal role is likely to become more involved in issues related to data privacy and compliance with data protection laws. This may include implementing internal policies, managing security incidents, and working with IT to ensure compliance with privacy laws.

There will also be a greater focus on innovation and legal technology. As technology advances, the in-house legal role is likely to adapt and adopt technological tools and solutions to improve the efficiency and quality of its work. This may include using artificial intelligence for contract analysis and management, implementing legal data management tools, and leveraging automation for routine tasks.

And finally, strategic advice, rather than being solely a legal service provider, in-house lawyers will continue to evolve to play a more strategic role in the company’s decision-making. In-house lawyers, by understanding both legal and business issues, can advise senior management on planning and execution of business strategies, as well as identifying legal opportunities and risks.