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How important have “soft skills” or personal attributes outside of technical legal skill been to the team’s success, and which “soft skills” do you feel are most important for an in-house lawyer to possess?

In the legal services sector no one doubts
that soft skills play a significant role for the in-house lawyer. This situation occurs because
in-house lawyers’ support within legal departments is no longer based solely on providing only “classic” legal services. Currently, the in-house lawyer should look much more broadly at the problems encountered in the organisation, taking into account management methods, internal procedures, operational strategy and understanding the sector problems in which the organisation operates. In other words, the in-house lawyer’s role is to focus on being an internal advisor to the board – a strategist – who advises the organisation not only on law itself but bearing in mind a much wider perspective and details about the organisation’s activity. This is in contrast to external law firms which do not have such knowledge.

Therefore, key soft skills include in particular excellent communication skills, teamwork, flexibility, ability to adapt to rapid changes, and understanding the needs and expectations of the management. These allow the in-house lawyer to work efficiently within the organisation and to solve its problems.

What are the main qualities you look for in a potential new hire?

I look for the opportunity to cooperate with professionals from whom I can learn and gain knowledge. Cooperation with others allows you to realise your weaknesses and strengths and, as a consequence, to develop your skills, both regarding knowledge and soft skills.

An important element is also the possibility
to work on demanding and complex projects, because their results bring great satisfaction
from work.

What advice would you give to any peers or colleagues working in the Polish market for the first time?

The main advice for peers or colleagues working in the Polish market for the first time would be to know that the management in Polish companies always want to receive clear and specific solutions for their issues. However, legal advice should include not only the legal analysis, but also provide business solutions that take into account the context of the sector in which the organisation operates.

In recent years, Poland has been developing very dynamically, which is associated with increased competition on the market and thus the need to quickly introduce changes in the organisation. As a consequence, the management’s expectations are also related to ensuring a very regular and quick response time in providing legal services. The speed of execution of a legal order often plays a significant role in cooperation.

What can law firms in Poland, and the wider CEE region, do to win more business from you?

In my opinion law firms should primarily create legal departments with lawyers dedicated to specific sectors of the economy. As a result, they will be able to guarantee legal services that are not only based on great substantive value, but also on providing legal solutions which take into account the business context. Knowledge of a given industry is a key to providing excellent legal services.

In Poland, we see the creation of multidisciplinary legal teams that are dedicated to a specific sector of the economy. Such law offices clearly gain an advantage over other law firms, which despite the fact that they have strong practices in a particular legal discipline, are not able to fully understand the needs and expectations of organisations, because they do not know the sector’s problems.

FOCUS ON… COMPREHENSIVENESS

Comprehensiveness – the key to success in the legal services market.

The Polish legal market has evolved considerably in recent years. From small law firms that have tried to provide comprehensive legal support to entrepreneurs – which unfortunately often did
not do so well – to large specialised law firms
that are able to provide quick and professional
legal expertise. It is a truism to say that the law industry is becoming more and more specialised. Nevertheless, modern organisations expect not
only legal support but seek law firms that allow
their business to be taken to a higher level. The answer to this seems to be law firms which in addition to strong legal practices have also dedicated lawyers who know the realities of a given sector
and also provide consulting, finance and compliance services. In this way, the law firms are able to better understand the client’s expectations and provide comprehensive solutions in order to guarantee full business support suited to the needs of modern companies.

IN THE WORDS OF NOMINATORS

Krzysztof Cyran is on top of things. He asks the right questions and he asks them clearly. He has a clear understanding of the value of legal advice and puts his resources to good use. It is always fun working with him.