The Flexible GC with a focus on Pride & Community

Lisa is a seasoned legal and regulatory compliance practitioner with over 20 years of experience in the digital finance sector. She has significant knowledge of regulatory issues around digital payment business and experience working in a highly regulated industry. Her career has focused on regional and international cross border businesses and is adept at navigating complex regional and cultural environments. Her areas of expertise include, corporate/ commercial, payment/E-commerce, financial services regulatory and compliance and legal strategy.

1. Hi Lisa! Can you tell us a little about the work you are currently doing?

I joined KorumLegal as a Managing Consultant since October 2017, and have continued to work with KorumLegal and its wide array of customers in the digital finance space since then.

2. Outside of work we know you're heavily involved in GGHK2023, tell us a little bit about that.

I started volunteering for GGHK2023 in 2018, initially as its General Counsel, and took over the role as its co-chair in 2020. GGHK2023 is a registered charity in Hong Kong and is run solely by our team of over 200 volunteers.

GGHK2023 will take place this November in Hong Kong, and it’s an international, inclusive festival featuring over 20 sporting events, 10+ arts & culture programs during a 9-day period (Nov 3 -11, 2023). The Gay Games has been around for 40 years but has never been held in Asia. So, this November will be the first time that the Gay Games will be held in an Asian city.

So, the significance of hosting the first Gay Games in Asia is that whilst the LGBTQ+ community in Asia is vibrant and thriving, it is still a way from enjoying the broad-based societal level of support and recognition seen in other parts of the world. In Asia, there are not as many opportunities for the LGBTQ+ community to come together at such a scale and participate in an international event that celebrates the spectrum of identities not always accepted in broader society.

The inclusive nature of GGHK2023 is part of its unique strength and the purpose of GGHK2023 is to create a positive, lasting impact on how society perceives LGBTQ+ inclusion in Hong Kong, Asia, and beyond.  This is the reason why the 200+ strong passionate and mission-driven team of GGHK volunteers (myself included) work hard at bringing a successful Games to Hong Kong

3. We often hear about green washing, pink washing and even rainbow washing in the corporate sector, what are your feelings on this and has it shifted.

Pink-washing, to me, means putting up a few rainbow flags or social posts during the Pride month or week, but that there is no substantive policies and procedures in place within the business to embrace and celebrate diversity and inclusion. When working with businesses, I often will also look at the products/services it provides to ascertain whether the business is truly making its products/services accessible, welcoming and inclusive. I will also try to find out whether the company has established DEI policies on LGBTQ+ inclusion.

Generally, I find that for international businesses, especially in the professional services sectors (like law firms, accounting firms and FIs), there is a genuine sense of wanting to embrace and promote DEI practices.

4. How has PRIDE and the relationship it has with the Legal Sector evolved in the last 5 years?

I think most firms and in-house teams are more vocal about their support of PRIDE.

5. What conversations do you want us to be having during PRIDE month?

The pandemic has created challenges for all communities around the world. In many cases, increased isolation and disruption of activities has stunted conversations and actions around inclusivity. We all need a forum that affirms every person and demonstrates what inclusivity looks like. Will be good for us to reflect and building connective forums, like GGHK2023!

6. As an experienced NewLaw/ALSP consultant, where do you see NewLaw/ALSP fitting in the matrix of the legal sector and how have you seen it evolve?

I have said it before, and I still stand-by it. For someone who is looking for more control and flexibility over their work/life, being a ALSP is a very good option.

ALSP is definitely a growing trend, because:

1. Technology has enabled us to move towards a more flexible working arrangement.
2. The younger generation of employees are also less fixed on having a “full-time, permanent position” generally. Caveat that with lawyers being a bit more risk-averse, so the legal profession might not be the “trend setters”.

In-house teams are generally more cost conscious nowadays, and they are smarter in the way they allocate their budget. So, there is definitely a niche for good quality ALSP to play which the larger law firms may not be able/willing to fill.

7. What trends do you expect to see in the legal services industry in the next 5 years?

Adoption of technology, more data-driven in-house team, use of ALSP. See above.

8. Your favorite tune? And why?

A song by HK's iconic popstar in the 90s, Anita Mui, 梅艷芳. She is my idol, and she is called the daughter of Hong Kong by some. I like many of her songs but lately I have been listening to 似水流年 (EN literal translation: Years flow by like water). The lyrics talk about friendships, impermanence and love.

KorumLegal

Jun 14, 2023