Navigating Change

Dentons partner Kara Baysinger; Sophie Moloney, general counsel and company secretary at OSN; Kiran Scarr, general counsel with Dubai Multi Commodities Centre; Yvonne Hilst, senior compliance counsel with Mubadala Development Company; and  Antony Cook, associate general counsel for Legal and Corporate Affairs in the Middle East and Africa with Microsoft; 

Dentons, in partnership with Microsoft and the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) Middle East, welcomed legal and business leaders in Dubai last month for the first Middle East Courageous Counsel event.

In a world that is constantly evolving, the event focused on how General Counsel can help businesses navigate change effectively and successfully. Inspired by Courageous Counsel: Conversations with Women General Counsel in the Fortune 500, co-authored by Dentons partner Kara Baysinger and General Counsel for the New York Public Library, Michele Mayes, the event explored the strategic importance of the role of in-house counsel in leading and guiding businesses through change.

Baysinger moderated a lively panel discussion which explored the evolving role of General Counsel from corporate gatekeeper to strategic advisor. The panel, who shared their thoughts and experiences across the issues that in-house legal teams face, included Antony Cook, associate general counsel for Legal and Corporate Affairs in the Middle East and Africa with Microsoft; Yvonne Hilst, senior compliance counsel with Mubadala Development Company; Sophie Moloney, general counsel and company secretary at OSN; and Kiran Scarr, general counsel with Dubai Multi Commodities Centre.

Opening the discussion Baysinger commented, “Change is inevitable. In order to be an effective leader in times of change you need to be a pretty strong captain." As a broad discussion around change management and the challenges and opportunities that this presents ensued the panel explored a number of themes, including the importance of being prepared for change and being ready to take risks; how crucial it is to engage stakeholders at an early stage; the value of feedback and communication; the benefits of seeking out mentors and sponsors; and the advantages of harnessing diversity.

Commenting on the successful event, Dentons Partner and co-founder of Sayyidaat Dentons (the firm's Middle East network for women), Sadaf Buchanan said, ''We are delighted to have hosted such an engaging and frank discussion. It was inspiring to hear our panellists' experiences and thoughts, in particular regarding the core values and attributes of good leadership needed to navigate change effectively whilst managing and unlocking the benefit of diversity and what that means to the business. Diversity and inclusion are at the heart of Dentons' values and contribute to the increased success and strength of our firm.''