Team size: Eight

Could you share an example of a time when you came up with an innovation that improved how your legal team works and did not come at a large expense?  

Due to restricted budget constraints as a result of the corporate restructuring the broader group of companies to which Beat belongs had to undertake, my team had to be downsized considerably over the last year, and in parallel, we had to undertake the process of liquidating 16 companies in 11 jurisdictions with limited external resources. As a result of the new business focus, I introduced the concept of a legal project manager who would be the point of contact for all people involved (business, finance, legal, and internal and external contacts). This person (who used to be our legal assistant) created under my guidance a proper filing, as well as a cost tracking system to assist with raising red flags where required and to guarantee the information is not missed by the legal counsel (in-house and external) working on the relevant matters (including significant deadlines). As a result, the entire team’s communication runs smoothly and without delays. 

How important is choosing to work with external lawyers who align with your company’s values? Are you likely to reconsider what firms you work with based on this?   

External lawyers must have a solid understanding of your business and needs and be able to advise you in a business-savvy way.  As a business representative (but also as an in-house lawyer), you want to know the ‘bottom line’ and be able to help your CEO / shareholders make the decision that needs to be taken.  Lengthy advice based on abstract terms is not helpful (and is very costly for your client).  I believe this to be a common topic in any company, but it is key in fast-paced technology companies like the ones I represent.  In that respect, if a firm does not provide the above to me, which is an intricate value of the company I have represented, I will likely reconsider using another counsel.