The driving seat of a global legal organisation is a complex place to be – and many GCs could be forgiven for spending all their energy just to stay in the same place. Not so at Michelin. Continue reading “Going places: Michelin’s Eight-Point Plan”

GC: Could you tell us a little bit about how you came to your position at Bombardier?

Alexander Steinbrecher (AS): When I did my LLM programme in the US after finishing my legal studies in Germany, I got into conflict management systems. Continue reading “In conversation: Alexander Steinbrecher, Head of Group Corporate, M&A and legal affairs, Bombardier Transportation”

‘If populism means that the ruling class is listening
to the needs of the people, if anti-system means
introducing a new system that removes old privilege
and encrusted powers, well these political forces
deserve both these epithets…’
– Giuseppe Conte, Prime Minister of Italy
in his inaugural speech to the Italian Senate, June 2018 Continue reading “Governo del Cambiamento”

GC: Could you describe your role and background for our readers?

Lucia Giancaspro (LG): I have been working as general counsel for the company for four years more or less, but I came from a very different environment. My previous company is actually in the renewable energy sector. Continue reading “In conversation: Lucia Giancaspro, Group General Counsel, DOCOMO Digital Group”

One thing is certain in Europe’s aviation sector: uncertainty.

The dramatic collapse of two established major European airlines demonstrated the volatility facing many sections of the industry, with British-headquartered Monarch Airlines and German-based Air Berlin becoming the latest casualties of turbulence in the market. Continue reading “Wings of Change”

A new diversity initiative has taken shape in the United States. Called the Black General Counsel 2025 Initiative, the key goal is to see African-Americans better represented in the in-house legal profession – particularly as general counsel or chief legal officers of larger public and private companies. Continue reading “Black General Counsel 2025 Initiative”

Corporate crisis events are on the upswing. A faster-paced R&D cycle, improved (but potentially riskier) technology, 24-hour news… the list of potential triggers goes on. Continue reading “Crisis: Adding value when the pressure’s on”

Storyteller. Ninja. Scrum Master. Brand Champion. Evangelist. The modern commercial world has created many new genres of work, but sometimes it’s hard to know what they mean. Continue reading “Riding Schumpeter’s Gale”

GC: Now less than a year out from the United Kingdom’s scheduled withdrawal from the European Union, how would you characterise the current state of negotiations between the UK and the EU? Continue reading “Rt Hon Dominic Grieve QC MP”

GC: Tell us about yourself and your role in Huawei.

Jan Bredehöft (JB): I started my career at Shearman &amnp; Sterling here in Düsseldorf, focusing on competition law, and then moved to an M&A outfit in Cologne. Continue reading “In conversation: Jan Bredehöft, head of legal Germany, Huawei Technologies”

Culture – what is it?

A set of shared values and beliefs. In the workplace, these define the organisation and the way people work in it. Continue reading “Trend Flash Report: Culture Change and Diversity”

With five destinations in total – Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Munich and Stuttgart – 75 general counsel joined GC, represented by editor-in-chief Alex Speirs and deputy editor Greg Hall, for the dinners. Continue reading “Dinner with GC: Germany”

Pressure for business to ‘go green’ has been building steadily for much of the past decade. What started in patches from a vocal minority has fast become a corporate imperative, as progressive governments impose both incentives and penalties on businesses, while an increasingly informed consumer base vote with their wallets. Continue reading “Clean commerce: Finance goes green”

GC: How did you come to be at Discovery?

Marcello Dolores (MD): I’m now in my seventh year at Discovery. I started to work for Fox International Channels, based in Rome, and in those seven years, there was a big expansion and startup of Fox’s business in Europe. Continue reading “In conversation: Marcello Dolores, VP – Corporate Legal and Regulatory Affairs for Southern Europe, Discovery Networks”

The Big Picture

Change in business is inevitable and the in-house legal department is no exception. GCs, the teams they lead, the way they are viewed and the work that they do are all changing. Continue reading “Facing The Inevitable: shaping the legal department and the law firm of the future”

One would be forgiven for thinking that a sense of normality may be returning to Spain following a calming of the rhetoric coming from separatists in Catalonia. Continue reading “A fresh start for Spain”

GC: Could you tell me about Edison and about your role?

Marco Lorefice (ML): Edison is the oldest European energy company. It’s named after Thomas Edison – a Milanese engineer met him at the end of the 19th century, and set up the first electric energy company in Italy after his name. Continue reading “In conversation: Marco Lorefice, Senior Oil and Gas and International Arbitration Lawyer, Edison SpA”