“Collaboration allows us to learn from peers who have tackled similar issues, avoiding the need to reinvent the wheel.”

An interview with Troy Swan, Company Director, Group General Counsel & Company Secretary at Winc Australia. 

How would you describe the state of the GC Community in your region? How has it changed since you first moved in-house?  

The GC community in Australia and New Zealand has evolved significantly in recent years, becoming more sophisticated, dynamic and strategically integral to business operations. Historically, legal teams focused heavily on delivering traditional legal, corporate, and compliance advice. Today, GCs and legal teams are commercial business partners, deeply embedded in strategic decision-making and driving business growth while managing traditional responsibilities and risks. This shift has been fuelled by increasingly complex legal and regulatory environments, creating the need for smarter legal solutions that deliver better commercial outcomes and by the growing recognition from Boards of the value lawyers add to organisations. The adoption of technology in managing legal teams and delivering large-scale legal services delivery models has also been transformative. Digital tools like contract lifecycle management, e-discovery platforms, SaaS applications and analytics have streamlined operations, enhanced efficiency and enabled smarter insights and management, all while increasing work satisfaction for team members. These technologies allow us to manage larger workloads with leaner teams while balancing legal risk and commercial opportunities. Additionally, the focus on corporate governance and regulatory compliance has intensified due to global trends. GCs are leading many workstreams on sustainability frameworks and stakeholder transparency, while corporate governance has grown more complex due to global changes and heightened scrutiny. The community is now more interconnected, technology-savvy and able to leverage peers to share strategies for navigating similar challenges more effectively. 

Why is expanding your network important to you?  

Having a strong network of experts and peers facing similar issues is crucial to staying at the forefront of a fast-changing legal and business environment. It ensures access to different skill sets, innovative solutions and benchmarks for best practices.  

What kinds of connections or discussions would be most valuable to you? 

I value my connections with GC peers and in-house lawyers in similar industries, as well as cross-sector peers facing comparable organisational challenges. Discussions on M&A opportunities, litigation, tax, risk management, AI in legal operations and team development are particularly valuable. Having a network of known experts in specialised areas – like data privacy, cybersecurity, antitrust, consumer laws or ESG compliance – is a great benefit. These relationships allow us to openly and easily tap into best-in-breed professionals for advice and strategies, ensuring we adopt the most current and effective approaches to complex issues. A strong network differentiates GCs by the value they can add to their organisations through smart connections. 

What do you want to achieve by collaborating with other GCs and senior in-house lawyers?  
Collaborating with other GCs and senior in-house lawyers is essential because, regardless of industry, we face strikingly similar challenges – regulatory complexity, cost pressures, talent retention and the need to align legal strategy with business goals. Collaboration allows us to learn from peers who have tackled similar issues, avoiding the need to reinvent the wheel. For instance, another GC’s approach to implementing legal tech or managing a cross-border regulatory issue can directly inform my strategy, saving time and resources.  

Are there specific topics, challenges, or experiences you’d like to share or learn more about? 

I openly share my experiences with my GC community on topics like leveraging legal tech, navigating changing regulations, and the GC’s strategic role, while learning from others’ successes and challenges. This mutual support strengthens the wider legal community, which is important as legal professionals committed to elevating our profession. By collaborating, we not only address our own challenges but also contribute to a collective knowledge base that empowers our peers and the legal community.