I am a Group Legal & Compliance- Director for Adidas Group in India. The mandate includes contract documentation, compliance framework, litigation management and advisory upon the legal commercial issues for Adidas & Reebok
Legal function has become more and more challenging in past few decades and my journey with Indian companies and MNC conglomerates has been truly exciting. With different working cultures, style of business, practices and ethos governing the companies that I had worked with, it has been a continuous learning both on intellectual and professional level. Moreover, the expectations and understanding of legal function by the Senior Management of the respective Companies that I have worked with has been very different thus needing special skills to handle and iron out complex situations.
Of course the role of GC in India has undergone a sea change during the recent past and the importance has significantly taken a giant leap and have gained more prominence. Earlier the role of the in-house counsel was more or less limited to handling of litigations only, but of late General Counsel is playing a very significant role in all business decisions of the corporate house as business strategies are now being made keeping in mind the dynamic legal and regulatory framework of the country. With opening up of FDI and India emerging as hub of the tremendousbusiness opportunities for the foreign business houses, a compliant business practice is the essence of the every business. Competitive environment as well as the laws of the land mandate good corporate governance and the same calls for a sound, ethical and compliant business advice of the in-house counsel as a conscience keeper of the organization.
In any business model the major challenge faced by the GC has always been to maintain the synergy between the legal and business demands right from the conceptualization to execution and even thereafter. I think this is quite natural for a growing economy. There has been a paradigm shift in the thinking now to catch up the pace with the world community and the culture of a fully compliant business practice is being inculcated very fast.
In-house counsels do have some limitations and expert services of the good law firm are also the need of the hour and it can be synergized in an effective manner if the services are optimized in a cost effective manner. This can certainly happen if the GC and the law firm do a hand holding and target this as KPI. Further they have both are required to have fiduciary relationship.
GC should keep himself/herself abreast with latest developments in eco-political and legal environment not only of their respective regions but also of the developed countries. Additionally GC can use latest technology to their advantage. Further, workshops, conferences, interactions within Industry/ legal fraternity and judicial developments also contribute significantly in continuous learning of the GC. Legal magazines also play an important role.
An in-house counsel has to play a role of consigliore, risk mitigator, corporate housekeeper and most importantly he is a manager also. One has to sharpen the saw on all these roles to become a successful inhouse counsel. Besides he should also have the sound legal knowledge, analytical ability, and sound business judgment, ability to deliver faster and have impeccable communication and negotiation skills.
Favourite Gadget – Samsung Smart Phone
Favourite App – Whatsapp
Favourite Automobile Brand – Mahindra
Favourite Writing Instrument – Sheaffer
Favourite Holiday Destination – Engleberg (Switzerland)
Favourite Cuisine – Bengali (Fish curry with rice)
www.grandmasters.in | 8 Years & Counting
www.rcls.in | 8 Years & Counting
www.itlegalsummit.com | 8 Years & Counting
www.bfls.in | 8 Years & Counting
www.maels.in | 8 Years & Counting
www.plcs.co.in | 8 Years & Counting
Copyright © 2020 Lex Witness - India's 1st Magazine on Legal & Corporate Affairs Rights of Admission Reserved
