What are the projects that you are most proud of working on over the past 12 months?

Being part of the team that led the response to the 2024 global cyber-attack on HOYA Corporation. The event necessitated quick and deep learning in a dynamic environment, crisis management, teamwork and coordination with multiple internal and external stakeholders and advisors to effectively respond to and manage the situation. This served as a significant growth experience in my career, demonstrating the capabilities of our team as well as HOYA’s capacity to handle such incidents.

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

Sound judgment and strategic and critical thinking are essential attributes for all in-house counsel. A general counsel should exhibit good judgment along with integrity, and an instinctive understanding of ethical principles, to enable them to identify potential issues and determine when further attention is required, even without specialised expertise in a particular legal area. An in-house counsel should demonstrate curiosity about the company’s operations, products and purpose, actively engage with the business, be culturally agile, and possess the ability to understand details while maintaining a broad perspective aligned with the company’s strategic vision.

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?

I would highlight three key trends: first, the ongoing increase in regulatory compliance, particularly in areas such as ESG, privacy, cybersecurity, and AI regulation, remains a key trend that in-house counsel must be continuously mindful of and engaged with; second, artificial intelligence, as it continues to influence our daily lives, legal professionals must remain vigilant regarding governance, ethical considerations, data privacy, and cybersecurity issues that may arise. It is also essential to understand how to effectively utilise AI to enhance the delivery of legal solutions by integrating it with our existing knowledge, expertise, and skill sets; and thirdly, M&A activity in the life sciences sector, which is increasing. It requires navigating regulatory constraints, geopolitical tensions, and FDI requirements. Counsel must understand both the requirements and their strategic implications.