siliconindia | | OCTOBER 202319Portray us a brief overview of general Counsel, in your opinion what are the most important skills for this role?The role of GCs and legal departments has undergone a complete transformation in the last two decades not only in India but across the globe. This is because the expectations of businesses have been complete change. Today's GCs are expected to be knowledgeable in legal disciplines and business savvy. They are expected to contribute positively towards the development and expansion of business. Additionally, they are expected to develop professional skills and knowledge in the newer areas of law and to act as mentors to young professionals, retention of whom has become a challenge. Expectations from today's GCs and legal departments are that of a business manager who understands the business and the problems/issues surrounding it and also assists the business to resolve challenges. Gone are the days when the legal department held no accountability to resolve complexities and challenges in a business, especially from the legal point of view.How do a General Counsel and Legal Department can help the organization facing corporate litigation risks? How the litigations can be avoided.I suggest the avoidance of litigation because it is expensive, time­consuming, and bad for the image. I always recommend taking preventive action to avoid litigation. This can be achieved by preparing properly and legally enforceable legal documents at the beginning and looking for early warning signals to avoid litigation. I support the preparation of dispute resolution policy not only for conducting litigation but also how to avoid it. Getting adverse publicity in case of litigation is a major risk. Restoring arbitration is a viable alternative that should be promoted. Such arbitration has its own challenges, but in today's world arbitration is highly preferred. However, before the arbitration companies should seriously and sincerely thank formal and informal mediation so that even lengthy and costly arbitration can be avoided. The attitude should be to resolve problems and not create them within the four corners of the law.What do you consider to be the biggest legal challenges most firms may face? Why?Today's GCs need to be constant learners, with the objective to apply their knowledge to the benefit of their organizations. Understanding geopolitical and its implications have become crucial. GCs need to take a keen interest in this area and advise organizations on the possible risk of doing business in sanctioned countries and with sanctioned Specially Designated Nationals (SDN). In this turbulent yet interconnected globalized world, geopolitics plays a major role in doing business in many countries. There are more than 50 odd countries in which sanctions are being imposed GENERAL COUNSEL IN THE 21ST CENTURYBy Abhijit Mukhopadhyay, President, Hinduja GroupAbhijit is the President (Legal) and General Counsel of the Hinduja Group and is involved in the Group's worldwide legal matters based in London. He serves as a director in several Group Companies. Previously, he worked in India as Company Secretary and General Counsel in several major publicly listed companies.VIEW POINTAbhijit MukhopadhyayPresident
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