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INTRODUCTION
In the fast world of corporate decision-making, it is important to understand that a lawyer's role extends beyond purely offering legal guidance.
Today, lawyers who advise businesses must wear multiple hats, merging technical knowledge with a business-centrical approach.
To succeed in this role, lawyers shall understand not only the law but also the intricate details of the business landscape, from marketing and product development to engineering and construction.
The main goal of this article is to explores the crucial skills needed to provide effective legal advice in a corporate environment, highlighting three main pillars: (i) understanding the business; (ii) delivering concise and actionable advice: and (iii) being a creative yet consistent problem-solver.
1. Legal Advice Anchored in Business Understanding
For lawyers advising companies, understanding the business is just as vital as understanding the law.
When crafting legal advice, lawyers must look beyond technical jargon to grasp the core of the industry, understanding the "how" and "why" behind business strategies, products, and services. This depth of knowledge is not just a plus - it’s a necessity.
A lawyer who understands the details of the company's industry, environment, competitors and goals will be able to deliver advice that is not only legally sound but also relevant to the business context. For instance, advising a technology company on compliance should involve an understanding of the technology itself, the market pressures, and the key challenges that the company faces.
This knowledge allows the lawyer to identify risks and opportunities more accurately, tailoring advice that truly supports the company’s goals and approaches.
2. Concise, Pragmatic Advice for Decision-Makers
In the corporate world, business leaders don’t have time to read through pages and pages of legal analysis.
They expect lawyers to be effective and efficient, with the presumption that if you’re at the table, you’re qualified. In other words, if a general counsel or a in-house counsel is being asked for an opinion, the leadership team assumes they’re already knowledgeable and capable.
Extensive legal memos filled with technical terminology are less valuable in these environments.
Instead, business leaders want answers that are straightforward, direct, and applicable to the real word.
To be truly effective, a lawyer’s response should focus on three questions:
A) Is this possible?
If not, what are the risks?
B) How can we make this feasible?
C) Crystal clear, actionable answers allow leaders to make informed decisions quickly. If a project presents legal challenges, and almost all do, the lawyer's role is to outline possible solutions that could mitigate or eliminate these obstacles. This proactive approach can turn a “no” into a “how,” aligning legal insights with the company’s business objectives and goals.
3. Creativity with Consistency and Technique
An in-house lawyer advising a company must be creative, finding innovative solutions to legal challenges while observing a solid foundation of legal knowledge and technique.
Legal creativity is not about ignoring regulations or taking risks blindly; it’s about applying the law in ways that enable a business decision of a project to succeed. For instance, if a business goal conflicts with current regulations, a creative lawyer may explore alternative approaches or work to adjust the business model to comply without compromising the company’s vision and the project goals.
Creativity must be grounded in consistency. A lawyer must remain detailed and disciplined, ensuring that every innovative solution adheres to the law and maintains ethical standards.
This good equation between creativity and technique helps legal advisors craft viable, long-term solutions that support business growth without exposing the company to undue risks.
Conclusion
Modern corporate lawyers and general counsels play a key role in bridging legal expertise and business strategy. By understanding the business deeply, delivering concise and pragmatic advice, and applying creativity with a solid foundation of technique, lawyers can act as true business partners.
In my opinion, the best legal advisors are those who not only ensure compliance but also support and enhance the company’s objectives, facilitating growth and innovation.
In the end, the corporate lawyer’s goal is to make complex legal matters simple and actionable for business leaders, empowering them to make decisions with confidence and clarity.
By:- Rodrigo Santos, Group General Counsel at Habibs Group
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