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Wendy Chan, general counsel and compliance director at McDonald’s Hong Kong, talks to John Kang about her role and keeping pace with digitalisation.
Tell us a bit about your career so far.
I liked analysing, writing and talking since I was a kid, so I always knew that I would become either a lawyer or journalist one day. That fact that I found lawyers and journalists in TV shows and movies very cool also helped.
I chose to pursue a double-degree programme in politics and law at the University of Hong Kong because of my mum’s wise advice. She said I should go to law school, as I could still become a journalist after I studied law, but not the other way round. Interestingly, I became a journalist when I graduated, covering local news for one of the leading newspapers in Hong Kong at that time. My most memorable experience during my three years in media was the visit of Stephen Hawking to Hong Kong.
How is being an in-house lawyer in your current company different from that of other companies?
I think the M logo of McDonald’s is like a magic spell that can make everyone happy right away. Colleagues here are truly passionate, energetic and happy just like the brand image we portray, because we all have loved the brand since we were kids.
Unlike in many other companies, where legal is usually a very isolated function that business people usually don’t want to approach unless it’s necessary for approval or compliance reasons, legal advisers at McDonald’s are close strategic partners with all other departments. All business and operation teams will involve you in different kinds of decision-making processes and management meetings, so I am able to learn new things almost every day and feel like a real entrepreneur who acquires knowledge in various areas outside of your legal expertise.
What are some of the major recent trends in your industry? In what ways have you seen these change or affect your role?
I believe digitalisation is happening in all industries, and F&B businesses are no exception. We can see the shifting of marketing from traditional media to digital platforms including social media, third party delivery apps, mobile ordering and so on. How to utilize big data for business insights thus becomes crucial given our huge customer base.
As a result, our legal counsel need to equip ourselves with in-depth legal knowledge related to the areas of data privacy and cybersecurity. The digital transformation is taking place very quickly, so we all play a key role to ensure that we are in compliance with the necessary legal requirements and the business teams understand the possible risk factors.
How many lawyers does your team have and how does the structure work as a whole?
The Hong Kong team is very small, so given the large volume of work, we need to engage external counsel regularly for litigation as well as some special projects. We also work closely with the global IP team on some brand protection matters and with the China legal and compliance team for knowledge sharing and some joint projects.
How would you describe your strategy for the legal team?
As an MNC and renowned brand, business integrity is always a top priority that cannot be compromised. But as rational in-house lawyers, we also understand that there is no business on earth that is without risk. Provided that it is not against the law, we believe in appropriate risk-taking which means that we have to understand all the possible risks involved, be it legal or reputational or operational, and work out the options, solutions and mitigation plans in case of any obstacles. Business leaders and management should be fully informed of all these.
In your opinion, what are the key traits that make for a successful in-house lawyer?
Strong commercial sense, excellent problem-solving skills and a can-do attitude are key, because as in-house lawyers, we cannot just stick to the letter of the law and ordinances and say no without even trying to find a practical solution. A good relationship with the business teams is also critical, and if you make them feel like you are part of their team, you will earn their respect and they will be more willing to listen to you in the future.
What is the best advice you have ever received?
“Work hard, but play harder.” I hope that all of us can be fun and fearless in life.
To contact the writer, please email john.kang@tr.com.