General counsel | Allianz Suisse
Irene Klauer
General counsel | Allianz Suisse
Team size: 12
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?
A legal strategy is of little value if it does not align with the business strategy. At Allianz Suisse, we place great importance on a direct and personal dialogue and ensure that the legal function is represented in all key governing bodies of the Company – such as the Board of Directors, the Management Board, and the relevant management committees. A strong mutual understanding fosters the alignment between the Legal Strategy and the Business Strategy.
What are the main cases or transactions that you have been involved in recently?
A number of corporate transactions ranging from innovative reinsurance agreements to M&A transactions.
How is your in-house legal function strengthening corporate governance in response to evolving expectations around transparency, accountability, and stakeholder engagement in Switzerland?
We are strengthening corporate governance in line with regulatory expectations and the company’s needs. Allianz Suisse is not a listed entity.
How do you prioritise diversity and inclusion within your legal department, and what initiatives have you implemented to foster a more inclusive and equitable work environment?
We have always lived in an inclusive and equitable work environment in our legal department. Regarding gender equality, as General Counsel I particularly appreciate the value of diversity and the importance of including male colleagues and perspectives alongside the female one.
What do you see as the major legal challenges for businesses in Switzerland over the next five years, and how are you preparing to address them?
The Legal function must find ways to use AI meaningfully – not just to accelerate processes but to achieve real productivity gains and qualitative improvements. My goal is not to reduce the number of lawyers, but to deliver better services for our clients and create a more attractive working environment for our legal team.
General counsel | Allianz Suisse
