Evolution of Agile Lawyering In-House Counsel as a Strategic Asset

Abstract

In-house counsel faces a new reality and challenge. The world and business have gone from analog to digital. Innovation, speed, digital technology and the internet have transformed how to manage and derive value for organizations – including the role of in-house counsel. In this dynamic landscape, the Mastercard legal department has adopted the strategies and techniques of Agile Management to add strategic value to the organization. Traditionally, in-house lawyers have focused on how to avoid or minimize risk. However, in this digital age, lawyers have more information than ever before about how businesses operate and what risks and opportunities exist. For businesses, it is time to rethink and create new and expanded roles for in-house counsel. The quest is to capitalize on the strategic and business knowledge that counsel offers for a competitive advantage. Mastercard’s legal department has employed this strategy with success and can share some of the lessons learned in adopting Agile Lawyering for other companies.