What skills or experiences have been most important in your development as an in-house lawyer so far?

Some of the most important experiences in my development have involved working on complex matters where there was no obvious or purely legal answer. These situations have taught me to be comfortable with ambiguity, consider different perspectives and understand the broader context behind a legal question. They have also reinforced the importance of remaining curious and asking the right questions, particularly when dealing with unfamiliar or rapidly evolving issues. I believe developing this judgement has been one of the most valuable aspects of my experience as an in-house lawyer. 

Who or what has most influenced your professional development, and how do you continue to build your skills and knowledge?

Being part of a technology company that is helping shape the next era of AI has had a significant influence on my professional development. I am constantly exposed to new ideas, new ways of working and questions that did not necessarily exist a few years ago. This has encouraged me to think more broadly about how technology is changing not only the businesses we support, but also the way we approach legal challenges and the role lawyers can play in solving them. 

Much of my development comes from staying close to the evolution of our products and technology, learning from people with very different backgrounds and areas of expertise, and experimenting with how new AI capabilities can be applied to legal work. 

For me, it is less about simply learning to use new tools and more about understanding what they enable us to do differently. I believe staying curious and being willing to rethink how we work will become increasingly important as the profession continues to evolve. 

What excites you most about the future of the in-house legal profession, and where do you hope to continue developing your career?

What excites me most is the opportunity to rethink how in-house lawyers spend their time and where they can add the greatest value. As AI makes legal knowledge more accessible and takes on more of the work that has traditionally consumed our time, I believe lawyers will have greater scope to focus on judgement, problem-solving and the conversations that genuinely require a human perspective. 

I also believe this creates an opportunity for Legal to work even more closely with the business, particularly as companies navigate new technologies and challenges for which there are not always established answers. This is where I would like to continue developing my career: at the intersection of law, business and technology, taking on increasingly complex challenges and finding new ways to make the Legal function more impactful within the business.