“In-House Counsels are now Strategic Business Partners rather than Enforcers of Legal Guardrails” Shahnaz Rasul Ahmed, Managing Director – Legal, Accenture

In-House Counsel

“In-House Counsels are now Strategic Business Partners rather than Enforcers of Legal Guardrails” Shahnaz Rasul Ahmed, Managing Director – Legal, Accenture

Lex Witness Bureau | November 2024

Briefly, Tell Us About Your Role in the Organization and the Mandates You Oversee?

I have been with Accenture for the past 17+years and am currently a Managing Director with the Legal corporate function at the organisation. In my current role, I wear multiple hats. The role of an in-house counsel is multifaceted and is shaped by a combination of experience and business requirements.

My role in Accenture involves ensuring that our client deals are complaint to applicable laws and regulations, providing relevant and timely counsel to business stakeholders on evolving regulations, and managing and mitigating legal risks. I support and evangelize ethical and repsonsible business conduct and best practices. I contribute to best practice sharing at an industry level at external forums.

In addition to my core role, I am the sponsor for the Inclusion & Diversity at Corporate Functions at Accenture in India which involves leading the charter to nurture a thriving culture of diversity, equality and inclusion for our people. On the Legal Access & CSR Growth Market Lead, I collaborate with stakeholders to drive Accenture Corporate Citizenship initiatives that allow Accenture to contribute meaningfully to its local communities.

Tell Us Something About Your Journey So Far As An In-house Counsel In India?

My journey of 23+ years as in-house counsel has been an exciting one. No two days are the same, and each day comes with its own nuances and complexities in terms of solutioning. The role of inhouse counsels has evolved over the years and is no longer limited to that of a legal advisory position. The role now entails being a strategic business partner who supports the organization and assists in navigating complex challenges and who has equal accountability and responsibility for the organization’s actions.

Here is a list of must-dos that I have learnt in my journey to being a successful in-house counsel:

Develop a keen 360 degree understanding of the business in order to become a business solutioning expert.
Collaborate extensively with the business teams to understand their unique requirements and help them make decisions that help achieve their business goals while mitigating risks, achieve optimal workflows, and adhere to laws and regulations.
Leverage technology platforms and tools to streamline processes and usher in efficiency while ensuring high-quality deliverables.
Be open and adaptable to change and have the ability to rapidly shift gears when required.
Develop learning agility, keep abreast of the latest legal developments and beyond, develop a keen business acumen and mindset.
Building trusted relationships and credibility and collaborating effectively both within the organization and outside is essential to effectively fulfill one’s as a strategic and trusted business advisor.
Lastly, I believe in consciously stepping out of my comfort zone and ask myself as to how I can add more value to the business.

My role requires me to operate on a global scale navigating through dynamic and evolving geopolitical ecosystems, I need to always ensure that I remain consistently committed to Accenture ethics and values and be the brand ambassador of the same.

Do You Feel That The Role of In-house Counsels is Evolving In Today’s Business Scenario? And If So, How?

Yes, absolutely.

In-house counsels are now viewed as strategic business partners rather than enforcers of legal guardrails. As businesses become more specialized and operate in complex and ever evolving regulatory environments, in-house counsels are expected to have deep expertise in the domains they oversee.

In an increasingly regulated business environment, compliance and ethics have become top priorities for organizations. We play a critical role in developing and implementing compliance programs, ensuring adherence to laws and regulations, and fostering a culture of integrity and ethical behavior throughout the organization.

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Amidst all these three we also need to be on top of our game when it comes to:

Embracing and implementing technology and tools for “ease of business” and to enhance efficiency, streamline processes, and better manage legal risks.
Developing proactive fit-for-purpose process and contingency plans that can address the changes in regulatory landscape in a robust way.
Evangelizing Inclusion, Diversity & Equity.
Adopting new working methods aligned to today’s workforce dynamics.
Being agile and open to change.

What Are The Key Challenges That In- House Counsels Must Deal With on A Regular Basis, Irrespective of The Industry Sector?

In-house counsels must solution to address the following challenges:

Meeting evolving regulatory requirements.
Ensuring a healthy governance and compliance mechanism across multiple geographies given our multi-jurisdictional portfolio.
Balancing legal requirements with business priorities.
Developing robust interpersonal skills as well as business and finance acumen.
Offer proactive support towards responsible & ethical business.

What Are Your Thoughts On Improving Synergies Between Law Firms And Corporate In-house Legal Teams?

So, here are ways that can improve the synergies between law firms and corporate in-house legal teams:

Embrace a partnership mindset, which goes beyond client-service provider relationship. Law firms should be aligned with the specific business objectives, industry dynamics, and corporate culture of their clients’ organizations and embrace a shared goals outlook.
Prioritize clear channels of communication and foster a collaborative relationship with regular check-in meetings between law firms and in-house legal teams on industry related changes.
Foster relationships with external forums to exchange industry best practices and share thought leadership specific to industries.

What Are Some of The Key Tools That In- House Counsels Can Use For Continued Learning Education (CLE)?

Regularly subscribe to legal publications and journals and legal Research.
Pursue continuous Legal Education (CLE) Programs.
Participate in external events, panel discussions, conferences, industry specific workshops, legal seminars etc.
Connect with peers, share insights, and learn from industry experts.
Mentor team members.

Any Advice For Someone Exploring A Legal Career As An In-house Counsel?

The most important aspect I would like to highlight for all aspiring corporate lawyers is to regard themselves as strategic business advisors.

Gain diverse legal experience by working at law firms at the beginning of your career. This will help you build a solid foundation before you assume an in-house counsel role.
Gain exposure to different practice areas as these will provide valuable insights and help you build key skills.
Hone your communication and inter-personal skills, get comfortable working as part of a team, build your executive presence etc.

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