How do you feel the pandemic has changed the world of work for in-house counsel and the function of the general counsel?
Personally, the pandemic has shown us how important is to adapt to changes. In our profession, interpersonal relationships are the most relevant way of connecting with our clients, partners, and our team. But with the pandemic, networking was changed to a virtual environment from which we had some benefits. Firstly, the possibility of a more balanced time between our professional and private life. Also, the development of new tools, apps, and digital devices to help us shorten the time we would normally spend in our legal processes. Generally, I think the pandemic allowed us to be more efficient with our daily tasks. Like any change, it takes time to adapt to it, but this was a clear example that we can continue working at home and be productive and better in any scenario.
What are the most significant cases or transactions that your legal team has recently been involved in?
Our team has been involved in different cases, of which most of them administrative processes and they have all been quite successful.
In what ways do you see the in-house legal role evolving in your region over the next few years?
Our role is going to have increased active participation. In-house lawyers must and will have a role as advisers and not just as litigators. They should be proactive and able to take measured risks for the business when required.
How important have ‘soft skills’ or personal attributes outside of technical legal skills been to the team’s success, and which ‘soft skills’ do you feel are most important for an in-house lawyer to possess?
Soft skills are generally very important, especially in our profession where some non-negotiable skills lawyers must have and apply, such as ethics, honesty, and emotional intelligence. As advisers, in-house lawyers should master effective communication in order to lead to a clear understanding of the normative in non-legal terms. I would add that empathy is among the most important soft skills.
