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?

With subject matter expertise in a wide range of areas, we support our colleagues at Temenos to effectively engage with clients, partners and suppliers while safeguarding Temenos’ interests. In periods of instability or crisis, we remain even closer to the business than usual, leveraging both our subject matter expertise and profound business understanding to ensure we focus on the business’ strategic objective while continuing to fulfil our legal mission.

What are the main cases or transactions that you have been involved in recently?

Major SaaS transformation projects of our clients (banks), the divestment of a large business division allowing Temenos to simplify its product portfolio in line with our current strategic and operational plans and the implementation of a new risk management system across the company.

How is your in-house legal function strengthening corporate governance in response to evolving expectations around transparency, accountability, and stakeholder engagement in Switzerland?

As a publicly listed company Temenos continues to maintain a strong focus on corporate governance. Transparency, accountability and stakeholder engagement are driven by a company’s culture, and our in-house legal team works closely with Temenos management to foster a culture based on these values.

One of the primary ways our in-house function fortifies corporate governance is through a rigorous approach to risk management. By leveraging their intimate knowledge of the company’s operations, our in-house teams identify emerging risks early, whether financial, operational, legal, or reputational. They work collaboratively with business units to map out potential exposures, develop mitigation strategies, and implement robust internal controls. The continuous monitoring and assessment of risks ensure that Temenos’ organisation remains agile and prepared for unexpected challenges. Furthermore, the in-house function champions a culture of “no surprises” by promoting transparency across all levels of the company. This encourages open dialogue about risks and fosters a shared responsibility for managing them.

Our in-house teams are the ethical compass of the organisation. By crafting, maintaining, and enforcing codes of conduct, policies, and training programs, they embed ethical decision-making into our corporate DNA. They also monitor compliance with both internal standards and external regulations, ranging from anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws to data privacy, environmental regulations and operational resilience (DORA).

Corporate governance is not only about processes and policies; it is also about shaping the company’s culture. Our in-house function actively champions a culture of integrity, accountability, and continuous improvement. Through employee engagement initiatives, whistleblower programs, and regular training, they empower everyone to speak up and make ethical choices.

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?

With new ESG disclosure rules and EU supply chain due diligence standards affecting Switzerland, how is your legal team integrating sustainability into governance and daily operations, and what role does the general counsel play in shaping corporate strategy?

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?

AI is a major legal challenge – and opportunity – that Temenos, alike to all businesses in the information technology sector, is facing. The speed at which AI evolves is astounding and optimising its use, starting by selecting which AI solution(s) to implement and what these may be used for, remains a challenge. Our in-house teams continuously educate themselves and our internal clients on AI use, as well as the risks and pitfalls that inappropriate use may entail, for example unintended and/or unlawful sharing of confidential or personal data. We also have nominated an AI champion, who represents the department in our company-wide AI initiatives.

In short, successful AI integration extends beyond technology to organisational culture and we remain convinced that our in-house legal teams have an important role to play here.