How do you approach managing legal aspects during periods of instability or crises, and how does your legal strategy align with the broader business strategy to ensure the organisation’s resilience?

As in-house counsel, my approach to managing legal matters during periods of instability or crisis is centred on proactivity, adaptability, and alignment with the organisation’s overall business strategy. The goal is not only to mitigate legal risks but also to enable business continuity and resilience.

Proactivity involves anticipating potential disruptions and identifying early legal and regulatory risks. In practice, this means regularly reviewing contractual obligations, force majeure provisions, insurance coverages, and compliance frameworks to ensure the organisation can respond quickly and effectively. I also promote scenario planning with business leaders to evaluate the potential legal impact of operational or geopolitical risks and prepare contingency measures in advance.

Adaptability is equally critical. Legal teams must be capable of reacting promptly when circumstances change, providing timely, practical advice that supports agile decision-making. During crises, this often includes renegotiating key contracts, managing disputes constructively to preserve relationships, or adapting governance and delegation mechanisms to maintain control and accountability while ensuring business agility.

At the same time, I believe the legal function should act as a strategic enabler. Legal advice should not only focus on compliance or risk avoidance but also on facilitating solutions that protect value creation. This includes helping the business design resilient contractual structures, implement risk-sharing mechanisms, or secure strategic partnerships that enhance operational stability and flexibility.

Alignment with the broader business strategy is essential. To ensure this, I maintain close coordination with management and other corporate functions – such as finance, operations, and compliance – to align legal priorities with the company’s immediate and long-term objectives. This integrated approach allows the legal department to contribute directly to strategic decision-making, ensuring that legal considerations are embedded in every critical business move.

Finally, during crises, effective communication and stakeholder management become fundamental. I ensure that legal updates are concise, action-oriented, and focused on practical implications rather than purely theoretical risks. By fostering trust and transparency with internal teams, external partners, and regulators, the legal function can help maintain stability and confidence, even under challenging conditions.

In summary, my approach combines preventive risk management with strategic alignment and pragmatic execution. The legal department plays a vital role not only in protecting the organisation from uncertainty but also in driving its resilience and capacity to emerge stronger from crises.