Abuja: Legal experts have charged legal and governance professionals to embrace digital tools to provide strategic value to engender organisational growth: Legal experts have charged legal and governance professionals to embrace digital tools to provide strategic value to engender organisational growth. They made the call on Thursday during Kaizen Academy’s webinar series with the theme: ‘Setting Yourself Apart: Unlocking Value as Company Secretary, In-House and General Counsel’. Kaizen Academy is a consulting firm that provides corporate strategy, compliance, and governance advisory services.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the Company Secretary of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Mrs. Cecilia Madueke, urged legal professionals to embrace digital transformation and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Madueke encouraged them to build their digital competence through online learning and hands-on experience. She highlighted the tangible benefits of digital adoption, including cost savings, improved stakeholder engagement, and faster decision-making. However, she also warned of the risks associated with digital tools, such as cybersecurity breaches and data misuse.
Also speaking, the Company Secretary of Ninety One, South Africa, Ms. Nana Aston, cautioned against blind reliance on digital tools and emphasized the importance of cross-checking AI-generated insights against actual legal texts. Aston recommended setting up an ecosystem of trusted legal and regulatory information sources, such as alerts from leading law firms and updates from regulatory bodies. She stressed the importance of continuous learning through accredited courses, masterclasses, and cross-border legal roundtables.
Dr. Denis Peterson, the General Counsel and Company Secretary of Mercedes-Benz, South Africa, noted that in-house counsels were uniquely positioned within businesses to offer relevant, integrated solutions. He highlighted four key traits that distinguished exceptional general counsel: empowering teams and fostering collaboration; blending legal advice with business-savvy risk management; embracing technological transformation like AI; and clearly demonstrating the value of the legal function to leadership. Peterson emphasized that trust is the bedrock of lasting impact, established through consistent delivery of quality advice.
Mrs. Abidemi Ademola, the Legal Director and Company Secretary of Guinness Nigeria Plc, called on legal professionals to embrace a mindset of creativity, leadership, innovation, and cross-functional collaboration. Ademola stressed the growing role of legal teams in data management, stating that “data is the new currency and helping your organisation access information at the speed of light adds value.”
Dr. Solomon Osagie, the General Counsel of Zempler Bank, United Kingdom, stressed the need for legal professionals to evolve, develop leadership capabilities, and maintain independence. He underscored the importance of understanding the business and being strategically involved, while maintaining legal independence and embracing innovation.
On her part, Mrs. Oyetutu Ayeni, the Vice President and Assistant General Counsel of JP Morgan Chase, United States, emphasized the importance of balancing legal risk with business innovation. Ayeni stated that in-house lawyers could achieve this balance by streamlining approvals, automating low-risk contracts, and collaborating with internal stakeholders to support innovation effectively.