Team size: 3

I oversaw the full implementation of our GDPR update project and played a leading role in ESG initiatives, contributing to Genepharm’s EcoVadis Silver certification. As part of the company’s digital transformation, I supported the deployment of AI-enabled tools for legal review, e-signatures, contract lifecycle management, and contract monitoring.

In the compliance domain, I led the completion of the implementation and subsequent strengthening of our internal programme through policy rollout, staff training, KPI implementation and monitoring, and cybersecurity compliance in line with emerging regulations.

It is also very important that, following a strategic review of legal operations, we expanded the in-house legal team and adopted a selective outsourcing model, engaging specialised law firms to enhance agility and optimise resource allocation.

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

A modern in-house counsel must serve as a strategic business partner. This requires a deep understanding of the company’s commercial objectives, financial drivers, and market landscape, to ensure legal advice aligns with broader strategic priorities. The counsel should think not only in terms of legal permissibility but also in terms of what is advisable from a reputational and risk standpoint.

In parallel, in-house counsel must proactively identify legal and regulatory risks, assess them in context, and help implement practical mitigation strategies — supporting innovation rather than hindering it. This demands agility and fluency with evolving legal frameworks, particularly in dynamic industries.

On top of the above, and contrary to the approach followed in the past, the in-house counsel must be collaborative, approachable, and solutions-oriented, in order to foster trust and maximise the legal function’s value across the organisation.

What measures has your company taken to incorporate sustainability practices into its core business operations, and how can general counsel contribute to driving such initiatives within the organisation?

Sustainability is increasingly embedded across Genepharm’s core operations. Just a few months ago, we were proud to receive a Silver EcoVadis medal, recognising our progress and commitment to continuous improvement in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance.

As a pharmaceutical company, we understand that sustainability extends far beyond environmental impact. It encompasses product safety, supply chain transparency, ethical conduct, and access to medicines. We also engage our suppliers through enhanced due diligence and require their full adherence to Genepharm’s sustainability policies and ethical values.