For the ex-Magentus legal head, it’s not just about what current law says
As someone who tackles technology law, Sarah White keeps her finger on the pulse of how technology is evolving. The Wellington-based lawyer recently got her Certificate in AI Law, Policy and Governance from the London School of Economics, and her work at the the intersection of law, technology and healthcare has shown her that the pace at which technology is developing can create a challenge for companies.
“Technology is moving much faster than the law – my experience in health tech really brought that home to me”, she told NZ Lawyer. “We’re seeing regulators having to adapt the regulatory framework as they learn more about how the technology can be used. The EU Digital Omnibus is a good example of this”.
White explained that for lawyers, it’s not just about what the law says now.
“It’s about understanding where regulation is heading and ensuring that as your company develops its products, you are asking the right questions and thinking about the impact of regulation on your product roadmap”, she said.
White came to love in-house legal work after completing a secondment while with Simpson Grierson. Being close to businesses, she said, “made me appreciate what they needed from their lawyers”.
Since going in-house, she has worked with the likes of Hutchison 3G UK Limited, COLT, AOL (UK) Limited and Royal Mail Group Limited. She also served as commercial legal manager at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment before moving on to the executive GM legal role at Xero Limited.
Before making the jump to Juno Legal, White was the legal and commercial engagement head (EMEA) at global software business Magentus.
“It was a fascinating industry to work in because the legal work was so closely connected to the underlying purpose of the business – providing software that clinicians and healthcare providers rely on to deliver better patient outcomes”, she told NZ Lawyer. “This experience also reinforced to me that some of the best legal work happens when you get involved early and work with your team to find a solution”.
White’s work has taken her to London and back to New Zealand. She credits this experience with widening her perspective.
“I’ve been lucky to work for some very interesting companies – most of which have a global footprint. I think it’s the global aspect that gives you great perspective on an issue and knowledge that you can share across different parts of an organisation. I enjoy stepping into the shoes of my internal customers, seeing issues from their perspectives and then bringing competing perspectives and views together”, she said.
White said she joined Juno Legal because she liked “the idea of working across a number of businesses and industries and helping them deliver their goals”. Presently, she is supporting Zespri Group and the International Office of the University of Auckland.
The role of the in-house lawyer is defined by problem solving, she said.
“You need to understand the technology and what the business is trying to achieve, identify the genuine risks and then work with the business to find a practical way forward rather than saying what can’t be done”, White told NZ Lawyer.
