Team size: 23 members

What are the most significant cases, projects, or transactions that you and your legal team have recently been involved in?

In 2024, we completed the divestiture of our orthopedics business as part of our strategic focus on therapeutic areas where we can make the greatest impact. Our legal team played a central role throughout the due diligence, negotiation, and closing phases. We collaborated closely with global colleagues and coordinated with law firms across multiple jurisdictions. Despite the complexity of the transaction, we successfully navigated legal and regulatory challenges, ensuring a smooth and timely closing.

How do you approach managing legal aspects during periods of instability or crisis to ensure the organisation’s resilience?

During periods of instability or crisis, the legal function must act as a strategic advisor, helping to mitigate financial and reputational risks. Our approach begins with ensuring that the company takes appropriate initial actions—such as managing confidentiality, conducting internal investigations, assessing legal risks, and handling regulatory notifications and public disclosures. Beyond identifying legal risks, we focus on delivering practical, actionable solutions in close collaboration with other functions to support business continuity and resilience.

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 that you think other in-house lawyers should be mindful of?

AI and Legal Tech are rapidly transforming the legal landscape. As automation takes over routine tasks like document drafting and contract management, in-house lawyers must shift their focus to high-value work—such as providing strategic advice and practical solutions tailored to the business. Given the pace of technological advancement, it’s essential for legal teams to stay informed and proactively explore how these tools can enhance efficiency and decision-making.

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

I am passionate about working with diverse, talented teams to deliver effective legal support. I find great value in learning from different legal systems and cultural perspectives, and I enjoy solving shared challenges by leveraging each team member’s unique expertise. This collaborative approach not only strengthens our legal outcomes but also fosters continuous personal and professional growth.

What factors influence your team’s decision to use external legal services versus handling matters in-house, and what criteria are used to evaluate their performance?

We engage external counsel when specialised expertise is required—particularly in complex areas such as M&A. One of our key evaluation criteria is their ability to understand our corporate philosophy and strategic objectives. We value advisors who can deliver timely, practical guidance that aligns with our business needs and adds real value beyond technical legal advice.