What are the key projects that you have been involved in over the past 12 months? 

I am involved in a litigation of great importance, the nature of which can’t be disclosed. Also, I am involved in a competition law awareness project, related to many countries in the relevant Carlberg region. Additionally, I am participating, as a legal trusted advisor, in a big multi–directional and business project for implementing European Environmental Guidelines into the Business.

What do you think are the most important attributes for a modern in-house counsel to possess?

A modern in-house lawyer should exhibit the right business approach and agile modus operandi to be a valuable member of the management team. Additional finance and commercial in-depth understanding are required to really assist the organisation in delivering its results and simultaneously avoiding compliance and legal risks. They should possess great ability to weigh risk parameters, produce concise advice and keep the right balance between speed and multi parameters’ thorough legal review. Self-evident experience shall also, after many years, lead to a 360° analysis of all, affecting essentially relevant judgement, input’ data.  In-house counsel should also wear other business hats, by avoiding legal approach’ isolation, if they want to be a valuable and respected member of the business. They should also embed compliance in the most effective way into the business.

Based on your experiences in the past year, are there any trends in the legal or business world that you are keeping an eye on, of which you think other in-house lawyers should be mindful?

AI explosion will severely affect the legal profession. As regards to in-house counsel, I have experienced a big change in the way that people gather information, have access to AI tolls, interpret results and challenge legal advice. There is big importance in this change, therefore counsels shall have a holistic approach to such information. Experience shall be utilized in a way, that a counsel deep dives to AI results and combines professionalism with logical thinking to multiply AI driven related data’ usage in favour of client or organisation. This holistic approach can’t be substituted, at least midterm, with AI driven output, since the latter just accumulates data and refers to already published documentation without any interference of human wisdom and past experiences (“lessons learned”).

What is a cause, business or otherwise, that you are passionate about?

Assisting business in delivering results by giving back to society. Being a trustworthy business partner by promoting ethical behaviour and utilising legal practice in a such way, that adds value to the whole organisation. Thinking risk as an opportunity. Being there in “crisis” incidents to exhibit resilience and harness legal strategy, avoiding head winds. Being more helpful to my colleagues every day through, inter alia, gaining knowledge and wining their respect.