ALB CONVERSATIONS: John McLean, General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer, Vistra
John McLean is general counsel and chief legal officer of Vistra, a corporate business service provider that operates in more than 50 markets globally. Having started…
ALB Conversations: Ryan Chung, Head of Legal for Southeast Asia, Klook
Ryan Chung, head of legal for Southeast Asia at online travel agency Klook, talks about why the one lesson that’s stuck with him through his career is the value of empathy; how he greatly values external lawyers who have a genuine interest in the company and are invested in its success; and why people don’t quit bad jobs, only bad managers.
ALB CONVERSATIONS: Penny Koo, general counsel and company secretary, AIA Singapore
Penny Koo, general counsel and company secretary of AIA Singapore, talks about why having a team with diverse talent is a strategy she espouses, how she uses the rock-pebble-sand approach to ascertain her priorities, and why all advice—no matter how sound and accurate it is—needs to be concise and compelling.
ALB Conversations: Richard Kurniadi, General Counsel, Kimberly-Clark Softex
Richard Kurniadi, general counsel of Indonesia’s Kimberly-Clark Softex, talks about why sometimes the legal function needs to push the boundaries without breaking the limit, how he wants his team to “play to win” instead of just "playing not to lose,” and why he’s a big fan of external lawyers who also have experience as in-house counsel.
ALB CONVERSATIONS: Audrey Shum, Managing Director and General Counsel, Christie’s Asia Pacific
Audrey Shum, managing director and general counsel of Christie’s Asia Pacific, talks about why the in-house legal team is particularly important as a business enters unknown territory, how having a culture of mutual respect and inclusiveness is particularly important to her, and why it is critical that colleagues feel they are learning and growing and are part of a collaborative team.
ALB Conversations: Michael Ting, General Counsel (Legal & Compliance), Manulife (International)
Michael Ting, General Counsel (Legal & Compliance) of Manulife (International) Limited, talks about why heads of legal must continue to evolve and stay ahead of the curve, how external counsel provide meaningful comparative analysis to enrich his understanding of issues and cover blind spots, and why he encourages his team to always think of themselves as part of a bigger team.
ALB Conversations: Shuhei Fujimura, Senior Ethics and Compliance Manager, Japan, Oxford University Press
Shuhei Fujimura, senior ethics and compliance manager, Japan at Oxford University Press (OUP), talks about why the fundamental element of best practice in corporate governance is the establishment of an ethical culture, how risks are not always visible or exposed from the beginning, and why there is no perfect compliance system.
ALB Conversations: Setiawan D Atmojo, General Counsel, BDx Indonesia
Setiawan D Atmojo, general counsel of BDx Indonesia, tells ALB about how he encourages an open dialogue with employees to help them feel comfortable sharing their ideas, why the best lawyer is not the smartest but the one who delivers, and that those who fail to prepare should prepare to fail.
ALB CONVERSATIONS: Daniel Lo, chief legal officer, Cake Group
Daniel Lo is the chief legal officer of Cake Group, a Singapore-based decentralised finance platform. In this interview, he talks about he wants to break the stereotype of in-house lawyers being a blocker to business, why technology is the best friend for any lean legal team, and how great heights are reached only through hardship.
ALB Conversations: Takayuki Kitajima, Representative Executive Director and General Counsel, Unilever Japan
Takayuki Kitajima, representative executive officer and general counsel of Unilever Japan Holdings, discusses his strategy for the legal team, his approach to technology, and the secret to sustainable long-term cooperation with external law firms.