Member in the Spotlight allows us to get up-close and personal with some of our ACC Australia members. This week we are shining the spotlight on Christalyne Look, Deputy General Counsel of Gaming Services and Corporate Strategy, Tabcorp Holdings Limited, and a participant in Season 1 of the inaugural ACC podcast series.
Tell us about your current role.
I am currently the Deputy General Counsel of Gaming Services and Corporate Strategy at Tabcorp Holdings Limited, which is a top 50 Australian listed, highly regulated and diversified gambling, sports and entertainment company. In my role, I provide legal and strategic advice to the Gaming Services business and group corporate functions, including corporate strategy, treasury, finance and tax. I also supervise and mentor 2-3 direct reports.
What do you believe is the most important skill an in-house lawyer needs?
I think the most important skill for an in-house lawyer to have is “courage” which I speak about in my ACC podcast interview. That is, courage to bring your true self to work, courage to speak up for what is right, courage to speak up for others, courage to own mistakes and outcomes, courage to think differently, courage to have difficult conversations, courage to humbly celebrate your own success and courage to be vulnerable.
What led you to pursue an in-house legal role?
I really enjoy working in the law and am passionate about helping businesses and people succeed - an in-house career allows me to achieve all this.
What advice would you offer to in-house counsel in building relationships with their organisations
To build relationships within an organisation, it is important to focus on building authentic relationships based on trust, including with your manager, colleagues, direct reports and stakeholders. This will also make influencing outcomes much easier!
What is the one thing a law degree doesn’t teach you about being an in-house lawyer?
It is not only “what” you know, but more importantly “who” you know. That is, building relationships, networking and having a sponsor within your organisation is the key to having a successful in-house career.
What are the biggest changes you’ve witnessed across the legal sector since you joined the profession?
Over time, there has been an increasing recognition of the value and contribution that in-house lawyers make to their organisations, which has allowed them to have a seat at the table to influence the culture and an organisation’s direction.
Finish this sentence… If I wasn’t a lawyer I’d be…
a famous fashion designer or runway super model.
I like being a part of the ACC Australia community because… it provides a platform to hear about all the amazing things that in-house lawyers are achieving both professionally and personally around the country and beyond, including through the new ACC podcast series.
Christalyne Look features on Season 1 of In-house Insiders, ACC’s exciting new podcast series.
Christalyne shares her views on how working in a wide range of industries can benefit your career, the challenges and assumptions she faces as a person with a disability and in her words, the importance of being brave.
In-house Insiders is available on all major podcast platforms so listen free today!