Big Sis Briefing: How I Built Regional Legal Strategy with a Laptop and a Pink Suitcase
Twelve months ago, I stepped into a new role as the first ever lawyer for the Asia-Pacific region at a global tech company.
No team. No roadmap. Just a big vision and a very pink suitcase named Big Bertha.
Since then, it’s been a year of building from the ground up while hopping across time zones and countries. A year of strategy, culture shifts, contracts, coffees and carrying far too many blazers in a suitcase that deserves its own frequent flyer status. 💅
A lawyer without borders
I’ve worked from hotel desks in Manila, café corners in Auckland, WeWork booths in Sydney and airport lounges in Colorado. Bertha’s wheels have rolled through more boarding gates than I can count.
But this role was never just about travel. It was about showing up, in person, for the people I now support. When you're the only lawyer in the region, proximity matters. You need to be in the room, understand how the business breathes and build relationships that a Teams call just can’t replicate.
Starting from scratch
There was no blueprint. I was the first legal hire in the region and that meant everything was greenfield. No legacy systems. No old habits to break. Just a blank canvas.
And while that sounds exciting (and it is) it also means a whole lot of listening, prioritising and translating global legal objectives into something that actually works in APAC.
The biggest lessons I’ve learned
1. Legal strategy starts with people
I didn’t begin with policies or process maps. I started with coffees. Listening tours. Conversations. People first. The trust built in those early days and weeks became the foundation for every successful initiative since.
2. Relationships travel further than rules
Every market is different. So are the stakeholders. I’ve had to flex my approach depending on who I’m working with, engineers in New Zealand, marketing leads in Australia, people leaders in Thailand. One-size-fits-all doesn’t work. What does work is empathy, clarity and consistency.
3. Progress > perfection
Sometimes you have to ship the MVP. Whether it’s a playbook, a new approval workflow or a way to triage contracts, done is often better than perfect. Especially when the business is moving fast and you’re still unpacking your suitcase.
4. Be visible. Even if it means another flight
As the only lawyer in the region, presence matters. I’ve been in boardrooms, leadership offsites, product workshops and big customer sales conferences not because I love a red-eye (I don’t) but because showing up changes how people engage with legal.
5. You build influence before you need it
Every conversation matters. Every quick reply. Every moment you make something easier for someone else. That’s how trust is built. And when the pressure hits people already know who to call and why. You don’t have to prove your value in the moment because you've been doing it all along. #teamwork
The view from here
This role has stretched me in so many ways. I’m going from lawyer to leader, from technician to strategist. I’m learning when to zoom in, when to delegate and when to throw my hair in a bun and get on another flight with Bertha in tow.
I’ve learned that being first is a privilege. It means you get to set the tone, shape the story and hopefully, build something that lasts.
One year in and I’m proud of what we’ve created. Legal is now seen as a trusted partner in APAC: embedded, accessible and commercial. Not because we had the biggest team or fanciest systems. But because we showed up, listened and led.
Final word
If you're a lawyer thinking about making a leap into a regional or greenfield role, please know this. It’s not easy. But it will grow you faster than anything else.
Bring your curiosity.
Bring your courage.
…. and pack light.
Or not.
Ol’ Bertha has room for everything….
💖
