The Panalpina Group is one of the world’s leading providers of supply chain solutions to businesses. We combine our core products of Air Freight, Ocean Freight and Logistics to deliver globally integrated, tailor-made end-to-end solutions. Our headquarters is in Basel, Switzerland, and we are listed on the Swiss Stock Exchange. I am Head-Legal of Panalpina India, taking care of its contracts, litigations and claims handling as well as providing internal advisory on legal issues. I am also responsible for Asia Pacific regional contracts and advisory assignments as one of the Senior Legal Counsels for the APAC region.
I started from private practice in the Delhi High Court. Switched to corporate in-house role in 2011 when I joined Panalpina India. Since then, the journey has been exciting and educating. Having interacted with general counsels from across the globe, I find that in India especially in the logistics industry, the role of a General Counsel has evolved into more of a solutions provider for smooth transactions in this complex business.
Yes, very much so. As I said earlier, the General Counsel in our industry today supports business in terms of providing critical and timely solutions to address issues and disputes as they arise rather than exclusively providing the legal technicalities. Also, as more and more companies are opting for resolutions of claims and disputes rather than the court of law approach, the Legal Counsels have the additional responsibility to drive beneficial negotiations and settlements for their companies and to avoid litigations to the maximum possible extent.
The world of trade and commerce changes much faster than the core world of law. The challenge for General Counsels is to keep updating their broader knowledge and acquiring new skills. A General Counsel, who usually is responsible for more than just one country, has to be aware of global industry trends. This will help with exploring and finding amicable solutions for country-specific legal issues.
Law firms and corporate in-house legal teams need to interact more without the excessive pressures of building beneficial business relations. They need to share knowledge, provide cross-segment trainings to each other and focus on delivery of work. Law firms in particular have to understand not only the specific legal solutions needed by companies in the ever-changing business environment. They also have to understand how to best give advice and provide services. These services must be tailored and delivered in a concise manner. The focus should be on the solution rather than the analytical part. Businesses on the other hand need to sync in with their retainers in regular trainings and share legal updates as well. This will lead to synergies on both sides.
Internet without doubt is the biggest medium of learning for professionals today. With technology providing every conceivable solution, General Counsels have to put their tablets and smartphones to even better use in order to solve critical legal problems. They need to develop their skills by doing short-term courses and diplomas on new emerging areas of law, all available online. Continuous learning also means revisiting what you learnt in law school and, if necessary, throwing some of it over board. Finding ways and time to do this can be difficult.
Do not approach this as a fallback or short term option, otherwise the role rejects you as easily as it welcomes you. Nothing to lose heart there, all you need is to be sure that you can become that solutions provider and a bridge between core business executives and the decision making board of the company. And most importantly, never stop learning. Keeping a student spirit alive will take you farther in an in-house role than being a gifted lawyer
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