Smriti Sinha is the general counsel of global legal tech software and services company, Opus 2, leading a lean legal team supporting offices across the UK, US, Singapore, Hong Kong, and UAE. She shares a “typical” day in her working life.

Opus 2’s mission is clear and embedded across the business: To transform legal for better outcomes. Our clients include global law firms, all the top 50 internationally, as well as world-leading arbitration institutions and barristers’ chambers.

Being an in-house lawyer for a technology company which serves the legal industry is particularly exciting because I not only support the company’s legal requirements and outcome, but I also help shape how legal technology is designed and used across the profession.

It is a really exciting time for the company as we are in the midst of scaling globally. We are now up to ten offices worldwide after our latest opening in Abu Dhabi.

Alongside this growth, we have been incorporating AI into our products and internal processes for some time, expanding what our software can do, how we deliver our services, and how we get our own work done. Being part of this growth means the work of the legal team is constantly evolving.

Legal works closely with every function of the company, including sales, marketing, finance, product and engineering, operations, and HR.

As a general counsel and member of the executive team, my work spans every part of the business. Legal works closely with every function of the company, including sales, marketing, finance, product and engineering, operations, and HR.

Having the opportunity to collaborate with and learn from others across the company is one of my favourite aspects of the role.

As the company’s sustainability executive lead and sponsor, I work closely with our Sustainability Coordinator on the full range of our sustainability initiatives, from emissions reporting and supplier management to ESG assessments and disclosures.

Each year we publish a company impact report, working with colleagues across the business to bring together data on environmental performance, people initiatives, and our broader community and charitable projects. It is a great opportunity to reflect on everything we have achieved throughout the year as a company and set goals for the upcoming year.

Good morning, UK; good evening, Asia

Though each day at work is completely different, it always starts in the same way, without exception. Every day begins with Ernie, my cockapoo, loudly demanding his morning walk. Walking Ernie happens without fail, and it has become an important ritual for me, mentally preparing me for the day ahead.

We are a lean legal team. Everything from customer contracts to partnership agreements, compliance, data privacy, intellectual property, and everything in between, lands with us.

There are the predictable demands: contract negotiations, regulatory compliance, strategic expansion. Then there are the surprises, like negotiating permission for our software to appear in a film.

Many in-house lawyers will tell you the weird and wonderful surprises that land on your desk are part of the appeal of an in-house role, and that is certainly the case for me.

The company has taken a deliberate approach to adopting AI, both in our products and internally, and I leaned into that early. Like most in-house teams, adding headcount is not always possible or the right answer, so the focus has been on working smarter.

Many in-house lawyers will tell you the weird and wonderful surprises that land on your desk are part of the appeal of an in-house role, and that is certainly the case for me.

During my time here we have focused on building better processes and implementing technology that genuinely adds value. Early on I worked with our IT team to deploy AI technology to manage completion of client security questionnaires, a necessary but previously time-intensive stage in our sales cycle.

Today, AI is part of the legal team’s day-to-day work, from contract review and policy drafting to research, risk assessments, and internal workflows.

We have former lawyers across the business, which is invaluable in helping shape product development because they know what disputes lawyers actually need when they are managing a case or prepping for a hearing. But, for the legal team, it’s also useful having former lawyers around with whom you can discuss legal topics.

It is also essential to use external counsel strategically – you cannot do it all yourself. Forming strong relationships with external counsel is key, and we have great law firm partners globally. 

Into the office – most days

I live in London and have a relatively painless commute, if the trains cooperate. I usually work three days in the office, and this hybrid approach works perfectly for me.

I love being around other people and am energised by the spontaneous collaboration and bonding that happens working in person, but working at home is perfect for undisturbed deep work.

I try to protect a few hours in the morning for work that requires focused attention, such as risk assessments for new AI features the product team is launching, privacy impact assessments, and analysing new regulations affecting our operations across different jurisdictions.

I love being around other people and am energised by the spontaneous collaboration and bonding that happens working in person, but working at home is perfect for undisturbed deep work.

Our clients are law firms, including some of the largest in the world, and they expect absolute rigour around security and data protection. Much of my work involves ensuring we always meet those standards while enabling the business to innovate and grow.

However, the focused time does not always stay protected! Sales might need urgent guidance on a contract negotiation, or product and engineering may want to discuss compliance requirements for a roadmap item, or marketing may need advice on an upcoming campaign.  

Creating opportunities for training and development is very important to me. I work closely with our paralegal and we set aside time each week, focused on learning, not just getting through the work.

We use live matters to talk through contracts, compliance questions, and how to apply judgment in practice. AI helps by handling first drafts and background research, which gives us more space to focus on building skills and knowledge.

Lunch

If I am in the office, I will normally grab lunch from Pret, and the chicken, avocado and basil sandwich is my go-to order. If I am feeling like something different, then I might go to Pilpel for a falafel.

I don’t usually buy a coffee, but I will often make a matcha in the office and am relentlessly teased every time I bring out my matcha whisk and glass! While having lunch I like to catch up on the news and read articles.

I’m a member of the Crafty Counsel community, which is one of my favourite resources for in-house lawyers.

Supporting Sales

A key part of my role involves customer contracting. As a global legal technology business, having bespoke terms or working from our customers’ template agreements is not practical or realistic.

However, when you are working with the world's largest and most sophisticated law firms as clients, there are inevitably discussions around specific provisions. These negotiations are genuinely challenging in the best way.

I am dealing with highly experienced lawyers and procurement teams. It sharpens my thinking and pushes me to be precise and disciplined in how I assess risk, explain trade-offs, and land outcomes that work for both sides.

For anyone who wants to develop their negotiation skills, work for a company that services and contracts law firms!

For anyone who wants to develop their negotiation skills, work for a company that services and contracts law firms!

Beyond customer agreements, there are partnership and supplier agreements, privacy work, legal and regulatory analysis, management of the IP portfolio, developing compliance training programmes, and more.

My work ranges from strategic, e.g. advising on market entry when we expand into new jurisdictions, to granular, e.g. working through specific technical terms in complex commercial arrangements.

For example, our expansion into the UAE and Hong Kong meant navigating local employment law nuances and working through regulatory compliance across different frameworks. I work very closely with our chief financial officer and finance director on expansions and other strategic projects; their support and insight is invaluable.

Good evening, UK; good afternoon, USA

We have a very large presence in the US, which means I will often need to be in meetings in the evening, particularly with the US sales team during peak periods. During these peak periods, I might start later in the morning and will then usually be on calls until late in the UK evening.

I try to work with structure and flexibility, setting clear expectations around availability and planning time zones so early starts and late finishes do not (regularly!) overlap. That approach helps me keep a steady pace and make sure I have the capacity when it is needed.

Good morning, APAC; Goodnight, UK

The day usually ends the same way it starts, with Ernie. Evenings might involve dinner with friends or cooking at home with my husband, but the last thing I do is take Ernie for his walk.

He is always waiting by the door, regardless of how late it is. I recently finished a contract negotiation at 1 a.m. and he was still there, fully expecting his walk and entirely unimpressed by the reason for the delay.

Working for a high-growth global tech company comes with demands but it is also exhilarating, fun, and deeply rewarding. The best negotiators in the world could not convince me to trade it for anything else.

Visit

Opus 2

Crafty Counsel

Connect with Smriti Sinha via LinkedIn