ALB CONVERSATIONS: Keiko Minami, Head of Legal, APAC & ANZ, Darktrace
A former number one junior tennis player in Japan, Keiko Minami is currently head of legal for APAC & ANZ at cybersecurity firm Darktrace. After graduating from law school in Sydney, she worked at tech companies like IBM and Dell EMC. Minami joined Darktrace in 2019, and assumed her current…
ALB CONVERSATIONS: John McLean, General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer, Vistra
John McLean, general counsel and chief legal officer of Vistra, talks about why businesses should focus on being both smart and healthy, what particular qualities he looks for in the lawyers he hires, and how he is determined to “enjoy every sandwich.”
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: Emi Takeda and Takamasa Makita, Managing Directors, Legal, Accenture Japan
Takeda and Makita Takamasa, managing directors in the legal department at Accenture Japan, discuss the leadership lessons they have learnt, the importance of company culture, and the best advice they have received.
ALB Conversations: Rachel Yee, Head, Legal & Compliance, Singapore & Southeast Asia, Sembcorp Industries
Rachel Yee, head, legal and compliance, Singapore and Southeast Asia, Sembcorp Industries, talks about the combination of traits she looks for in team members, how respect is at the heart of successful relationships with external counsel, and why mindset makes all the difference.
ALB Conversations: Hiro Kato, General Counsel, Inpex
Hiro Kato, general counsel of Japan’s Inpex, talks about why it's important to follow the “Big Rules,” the importance of corporate culture to a flexible and non-hierarchical team like his, and how he never forgets that the legal industry is, in essence, a service industry.