LOD’s Managing Director, Paul Cowling, joined a panel of expert GC’s who lead teams in global companies - headquartered overseas. The panelists discussed practical strategies for local in-house legal teams to effectively integrate within global legal structures and enhance the global-to-local operations.
These ten tips provide a roadmap for enhancing the effectiveness of local teams within the global frameworks. While there was much more to share, these highlights capture the essence of the discussion and are practical strategies for success.
1. Embrace Collaboration Tools
Technology and collaboration tools are transforming the way global teams work – embrace collaboration tools like Teams, Slack, Trello, Miro, or the millions of others. Implement a global legal engagement model that uses these tools to drive problem-solving, reduce redundancy, and ensure seamless integration and efficient use of global resources.
2. Build Strong Relationships
Maintain robust relationships with key stakeholders. Effective stakeholder management involves clear communication with global headquarters and leveraging both formal and informal channels to build strong relationships. Strong relationships with stakeholders will ensure local needs are addressed within the global strategy.
3. Utilise Global Influence
Become the trusted advisor who understands both local operations and the global legal strategy. Staying integrated with the global legal landscape through collaborative platforms and strong relationships allows teams to influence global strategies from the other side of the world, while ensuring that local insights and expertise are valued and incorporated into any plans.
4. Cultivate Cultural Awareness
Cultural sensitivity, patience, and awareness are vital when working in global teams. Viewing cultural and linguistic challenges as opportunities for growth can enhance team effectiveness. Listening carefully and being sensitive to cultural nuances in language, habits and practices, helps build stronger, more cohesive teams.
5. Overcome Communication Barriers
Effective communication is key to managing challenges like time zone differences and linguistic barriers. Strategies such as adjusting work hours and using collaborative tools can maintain productivity and ensure all team members are aligned, regardless of location. Duplicate or record meetings so people in different time zones can catch up later.
6. Understand Local Markets
Adapting to local market conditions and regulatory environments is crucial for the success of global legal teams. Understanding these local nuances ensures that global strategies are relevant and effective at the local level, enhancing overall team performance.
7. Balance Global and Local Priorities
There’s a fine balancing act of global and local priorities. Successfully balancing priorities is essential for cohesive team operations. Ensuring that global strategies are adapted to fit local needs, while aligning local actions with global objectives, requires constant communication and adjustment to maintain harmony and effectiveness.
8. Leverage Existing Solutions
Adopting best practices and trends from international colleagues can drive local success. It’s an opportunity to learn from other regions’ experiences for your own growth. Implementing legal tech solutions and leveraging existing global technology can benefit local operations, enhance capabilities and performance – avoid reinventing the wheel.
9. Advocate Locally
Advocating for local needs within the broader global framework ensures that local perspectives are considered in global strategies. Integrating local insights into the global legal framework ensures that they are valued and incorporated, benefiting both local and global operations.
10. Benchmark and Adapt
Benchmarking practices against global teams helps local teams adapt and re-evaluate work habits and practices. Continuous learning and adaptation, driven by global teams, allow local teams to stay ahead of trends and improve their practices.
Global collaboration is on the rise and will keep expanding in the future. To keep pace with the evolving legal industry, we must adopt practical methods for efficient working and better outcomes within global teams. Embrace collaboration tools, build strong relationships, and balance global and local priorities to stay ahead in a rapidly changing industry. The tips outlined above are just the beginning, but they can significantly help local teams thrive and make a meaningful impact on the global stage.