An interview with Alejandro Bes, Group General Counsel/CLO at Axmed in Switzerland.
How would you describe the state of the GC Community in your region? How has it changed since you first moved in-house?
As General Counsel at Axmed, I’d characterise the current state of the GC community in Switzerland as dynamic yet somewhat fragmented. Historically, Switzerland’s legal sector has been characterised by significant atomisation, with legal professionals often operating in silos, driven partly by the decentralised structure of the country’s business environment and the language invisible borders. However, recent years, especially in the wake of the pandemic, have highlighted the increasing need for greater exchange and collaboration among legal professionals. The uncertainties created by the post-pandemic landscape have prompted a stronger desire among general counsels and senior in-house lawyers to connect, share experiences, and collaboratively navigate these challenges.
I think there’s a palpable sense of uncertainty regarding career development within the GC community. Many professionals are re-evaluating traditional career paths, reflecting deeply on their roles, responsibilities, and opportunities for growth in a changing corporate environment. These concerns underscore the importance of promoting more structured forums and platforms where legal professionals can exchange ideas, mentor each other, and collectively shape the future trajectory of in-house legal careers.
Why is expanding your network important to you? What kinds of connections or discussions would be most valuable to you?
Expanding my professional network is really important to me because, ultimately, our roles are becoming too complex to manage in isolation. By regularly connecting with peers, we can swap insights, share innovative approaches to common problems, and stay ahead of evolving trends. I’ve found that staying actively engaged in networks not only helps me anticipate legal and regulatory changes but also provides a clearer picture of how to tackle issues that I’d have to otherwise face in isolation.
And perhaps most importantly, building strong relationships with other legal professionals often leads to meaningful collaborations, shared resources, and even just the comfort of knowing there’s someone to turn to when facing challenging situations.
What do you want to achieve by collaborating with other GCs and senior in-house lawyers? Are there specific topics, challenges, or experiences you’d like to share or learn more about?
When I think about collaborating with other GCs and senior in-house lawyers, what I’m really looking for is a way to jointly tackle the complex challenges we all face, whether that’s figuring out the latest regulatory maze or managing risk more effectively. There’s immense value in collectively brainstorming strategies rather than navigating these issues alone. Additionally, I love hearing how others are optimising their legal departments, doing more with less, or streamlining processes to become more efficient. These practical insights are incredibly helpful in shaping our own approach at Axmed.
Lastly, collaboration for me is also about professional growth. Exchanging experiences, mentoring, and being mentored, these interactions make us better lawyers and stronger strategic partners in our organisations.
