At the end of June, The Centre for Legal Leadership hosted the third in a series of webinars in conjunction with Practical Law on developing your career in-house. This post explores some of the themes that the panellists discussed during the session and that were raised in questions from an online audience.

Developing your career in-house

This video provides advice on how company secretaries can facilitate the integration of ESG and governance, including supporting the non-executive directors and the organisation in responding to ESG and the commercial value it can provide.

Diversity and inclusion: challenges and success stories
The Practical Law In-house Consultation Board recently convened to consider the theme of diversity and inclusion (D&I) as it relates to the key stages of the employment cycle: recruitment, retention, appraisal and exit. D&I has rightly risen to the top of the agenda for responsible companies and become a key topic of conversation on the conference circuit. It was refreshing to hear from board members about the real-world challenges that they and their businesses face, as well as some of the success stories they were able to share. Here are some key takeaways I took from the discussion. Continue reading

Key ESG considerations from a company perspective
This video looks at the key ESG considerations from the company perspective. I explain why companies need to take ESG seriously, give an overview of what companies should do and outline the growing importance of having ESG performance independently verified.

Case study: ESG and DEI in the funds industry
Whether it’s global warming or racial justice, no business can be tone deaf to how it treats others and the world around us; and the shrewdest organisations recognise that these factors are fundamental to their success. Over the last five years, international law firm Paul Hastings has examined and celebrated the efforts that their clients have undertaken to create real culture change in inclusion and diversity.
In a recent study, we examined the way in which their long-term private equity client, Pantheon, leads the funds industry in its adoption of both environmental, social and governance (ESG) and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) strategies, both internally and externally.

What’s on the agenda for in-house lawyers in July 2021?
Businesses will be anticipating England’s expected move from Step 3 to Step 4 of its roadmap out of lockdown on 19 July 2021. In-house lawyers should also take note of the Law Commission’s recently-launched consultation on corporate criminal liability.

Data privacy and cybersecurity: Summer agenda 2021
The key current developments in the world of data privacy and cybersecurity centre largely on the highly complex area of international transfers. The UK’s wait for the European Commission’s adequacy decisions is now, as of today, over. The decisions allow for the free flow of personal data from the EU to the UK (see our update). The decisions include sunset clauses that limit the decisions to four years, after which they will be reviewed. Continue reading

Please join us on 30 June 2021 (2.00pm-3.30pm) for a discussion hosted by The Centre for Legal Leadership (CLL) on the ways in which you can develop a successful and rewarding career as an in-house lawyer. It will explore what an in-house career looks like and how you can influence how it progresses.

The Hearing podcast: Ep.78, Stevie Ghiassi (Legaler)
Episode 78 of the Hearing is now available.
Question: What do the Iranian national football team, NFTs, Hotel Rwanda and Andy Murray have in common?
Answer: Stevie Ghiassi, Co-founder of Legaler and Legaler Aid. And Joe’s guest this week!
In this episode, Stevie chats to Joe about his unlikely journey from running a chain of souvenir shops to becoming a legal tech entrepreneur. He also talks about the important work that Legaler Aid is doing, and ways in which legal tech and blockchain have helped them pivot after the COVID-19 pandemic took away traditional fundraising streams. Yet again we’re seeing innovative ways that cryptocurrency and blockchain are being used, and how they offer real opportunities for the legal industry.

This video provides advice around some of the key challenges that company secretaries are likely to face over the next 12 months, due to the pandemic. This includes identifying effective and innovative ways to conduct board meetings, and tips to help improve stakeholder engagement.