Career Biography:

Simone Girson Newton has worked in the specialty insurance industry for over 13 years and with Allied World since 2022, having previously undertaken similar roles within the Liberty Mutual Insurance Group. Newton qualified as a UK solicitor in 2009, having trained at the international law firm CMS Cameron McKenna LLP (now CMS), specializing in corporate and M&A transactions with an insurance focus. She currently oversees a legal and compliance function for the Lloyd’s Syndicate of Allied World. She is also the Company Secretary and Data Protection Officer for AWMA.

Newton obtained an English Law with French Law degree at University College London (University of London) and a Diplôme de Droit Français from Université Panthéon-Assas (Paris II). She is admitted as a UK qualified solicitor.

What are the key projects that you have been involved in over the past 12 months?

I am really proud of the legal and compliance team’s achievements in supporting the business to maintain its “outperforming” status for Lloyd’s Syndicate 2232. The team has been busy this year on various international regulatory projects. One main consideration for the function when I joined was to align resources with cross-jurisdictional regulatory priorities and evolving key business focus areas. I have learnt that the key to any process or team resource change (whether big or small) is that it won’t be easy (!) but by keeping stakeholders in the loop and taking them with you on the journey, it will be easier to get their buy-in and collaboration on the project in the long run.

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?

From experience, managing legal aspects successfully during a period of instability requires good communication, trusted relationships and keeping a cool head – even when others around you are not! Throughout my career, from working on multi-million-dollar M&A deals, pan-European licensing agreements to finalising smaller contracts, there is generally going to be some form of uncertainty at some point, whether it be on the legal side, business side or both. I think being aware of this inevitability helps to prepare you for various potential eventualities. Maintaining a resilient legal function is also key to serving business needs during a period of instability. It is important to keep re-reviewing team resourcing, prioritisation and internal organisation efficiencies to help achieve the team’s and business resilience goals.

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

Strong resilience and flexibility are key skills to a sustainable career in a fast-paced in-house counsel environment. I am grateful to have worked in organisations that support mental health and resilience awareness. Also, having a genuine interest in the business and a desire to learn more about the company’s strategy and goals is vital – this helps to understand the business context and shape any advice in line with those areas. Further, embracing technology and continuous learning to stay agile in a dynamic environment are important skills to develop as you forge your in-house career. The business is always receptive and grateful if you can find solutions to a problem and the response can become faster over time!