When it comes to reflecting on the past year, for Australian legal practices it’s safe to say it was a challenging 2022. With rising expenses, talent shortages and minimal changes made to department budgets, in-house counsel have likely found themselves in a position where they are bearing a greater workload and higher expectations than ever before. Key issues such as evolving business models, complex global structures and economic disruptions have intensified the workload for in-house legal departments to manage the implications of various factors affecting operations.
Research from the 2022 LDO Index Survey revealed that controlling external legal counsel costs is a top concern for the majority of departments, with 49% of firms surveyed indicating that bringing work in-house is a high priority to manage budgets. With a forecast of increasing workloads for in-house counsel in the coming year, how will in-house teams effectively manage a higher volume of work in areas of law that practitioners may not be familiar with?
Senior Legal Counsel (APAC) and Partner for Knight Frank, Jorgie Gorman, has been a part of the global property consultancy since 2015 and was recently a Finalist in the In-House Lawyer of the Year category for the 2022 Lawyer’s Weekly Australian Law Awards and Women in Law Awards. Jorgie is a force to be reckoned with, outlining what she values in her role as Knight Frank’s go to for all legal matters in the APAC region:
“My role is dynamic and multi-faceted. I am required to take a commercially focused approach to a wide range of matters which means I am continuously learning and developing my legal and analytical skills. Working in-house and collaboratively with my clients allows me to gain a deep understanding of their strategic goals and the wider objectives of the business. I get to see the results of my legal advice firsthand and how I make a positive impact on the bottom line with work I do. Every day brings something new, and I love it!”
As legal firms continue to explore global expansion activities, what are the impacts and opportunities for in-house teams?
This is an area that Jorgie has a wide breadth of experience in. Recently, she helped to advise on the legal requirements of Knight Frank’s expansion into the Vietnamese market. Further, in July 2022 Jorgie was tasked with supporting the firm’s APAC team in addition to her existing portfolio of internal clients in Australia.
“Taking on this new opportunity and working in jurisdictions I am not familiar with is daunting, however, I am excited to learn about different legal systems, business, and cultural practices, and to broaden my knowledge and professional networks. As an in-house lawyer, I often find myself going back to ‘first principles’ when I don’t know precisely what the legal position is on an issue. I am getting better at trusting my gut and identifying the commercial and legal issues material for the business.
In a global marketplace, corporates from large multi-national firms to SME’s compete for market share in the region. This creates a fantastic opportunity for in-house lawyers to develop their analytical, problem solving, project management and generalist legal skills. In my experience working in the region to date, I am learning that you need to be able to embrace change and be agile and adaptable to achieve successful legal outcomes. When dealing with different legal systems and navigating cultural and language barriers, you can’t necessarily predict how a deal might play out at the outset. Working in the region is challenging me to step outside of my comfort zone, giving me a fresh perspective and broadening my outlook. It is exciting!”
Also an experienced Commercial Property Manager, Jorgie adds value to the Knight Frank by providing a unique insight and understanding of matters concerning her peers and the industry
The notion of upskilling is certainly not unheard of when considering the legal profession, whether it be gaining knowledge around new concepts and industries, or even in digital literacy as our reliance on technology has increased. For Jorgie, upskilling meant taking on a completely new challenge to better assist her clients:
“Prior to joining Knight Frank, I worked as a Commercial and Property Lawyer in private practice for 9 years. I have always had an interest in property so in 2013 whilst on maternity leave, I decided to gain more practical and technical knowledge of the industry by enrolling in a property and real estate degree, obtaining my real estate licence. I joined Knight Frank in 2015 and was appointed to manage a 42,000 sqm premium asset in Canberra. I worked in this role for two years before taking on my in-house counsel role. My experiences as a commercial property manager and currently as Licensee in Charge of the Knight Frank Canberra office have given me a greater commercial insight into the real estate industry and a practical understanding of some of the issues faced by my internal clients which adds value.”
Not only has Jorgie undertaken further studies to be able to provide a unique insight into her client matters, she is also an active contributor and member of the Knight Frank Diversity and Inclusion Committee, helping to positively shape the employee experience within the firm. Despite the rising importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in the legal sector, insights from the 2022 LDO Index Survey revealed that many organisations are still sorely lacking in their DEI objectives. For the team at Knight Frank and their D&I committee, a positive and inclusive workplace culture can foster intrinsic value.
“The Committee’s goal is to foster an environment where we all feel we can bring our whole selves to work. The Committee has developed Knight Frank’s Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and set up some tangible action items which we aim to drive real and sustainable positive change across the business. My focus is on the gender pillar and ensuring that Knight Frank is achieving the right balance between genders on all levels and roles within the organisation. I am an active contributor to our D&I initiatives and campaigns and policies. I work with an incredible and diverse team – people who are not only experts in their fields but who are problem solvers, innovators, and high performers. I find the culture at Knight Frank extremely inspiring; it is not only a fun place to work but it also encourages me to take on new challenges and perform at my best.”
A time for reflection, but there’s no signs of slowing down for this in-house lawyer
As the world adjusted to new ways of living and working throughout the past two years, reflecting on her experience during this period has been an opportunity for Jorgie to look back on the remarkable progress she and her team have been able to accomplish with Knight Frank. In addition to her expanding global portfolio, Jorgie has expertly balanced her existing portfolio which services over 750 internal clients, all whilst working within a small in-house team. Preparing her submission for the Women in Law Awards allowed Jorgie to reflect on her achievements and barriers she and the Knight Frank team have overcome and will continue to do:
“Writing my submission for the Women in Law Awards was a fantastic experience, I am proud of what I and the legal team at Knight Frank have been able to achieve, and it has driven my ambition to continue to make a positive impact, particularly as an advocate for gender equality, diversity and inclusion in the legal profession.”
