Name: Lujain Abbas
Position: Group Head- Legal and Compliance
Company: Lami Technologies
Sector/Industry: Fin-Tech (Financial Technology)
Worked in the current position for (number of years/months): 4 years
Total years as an in-house lawyer: 4 years
A day in the life: I am the Group Head of Legal and Compliance at Lami Technologies, an insurtech headquartered in Nairobi. Lami Technologies is Kenya’s leading insurance technology company (Insur-tech) whose API platform has digitised the entire insurance value-chain end to end from KYC, pricing, underwriting and claims processing. With this platform, all our partners and interested stakeholders can distribute various insurance products at any point of sale.
As Head of Legal, I manage all the company’s in-house and external legal services. I also handle the board’s secretarial and data protection officer functions.
Every day could look or be a variation of something like this- Before getting into my daily tasks, I block out at least 30mins of my morning for self-improvement. These 30mins are spent reading articles ranging from business, law or general local and world news. I slowly ease into my day by reviewing my emails and responding to those requiring minimal effort and time.
Depending on which day of the week it is, I’ll either be preparing my weekly to-do list, having my weekly catchups with my team or going over my daily to-do list to plan my day and its priorities appropriately.
My daily to-do list usually anticipates meetings. I hop on calls with my colleagues to review internal projects requiring collaborative inputs. I also join meetings with external stakeholders to go over ongoing projects.
By this time, my morning and afternoon are spent, and I subsequently close my day with legal research on arising matters and reverting on any urgent feedback or action that was needed by the end of the day on my part.
The best thing about my current job is: The best part of my job is being part of a company that is out to change how insurance is packaged and sold. Lami is a regional, growing technology company, so I find myself, for the most part, being hands-on with the company’s commercial drivers. I’m always working with my colleagues on strategic business points that expect me to give specialist legal advice in our sector and creative solutions on how best to navigate the regulatory terrain to meet these business needs in our operating markets.
Additionally, my job also exposes me to new technology that I get to learn about and appreciate its role in society.
The most challenging thing about my current job is: The best thing about my job is the most challenging part of my job- It’s a double-edged sword.
With my legal background, knowledge, and awareness of the business’s commercial needs, balancing these priorities can sometimes take work. The law is often wary of new technology, so finding the sweet spot between regulation and the company’s needs is usually an uphill task.
Additionally, because of the fast-paced environment, I’m constantly challenged to give quick and creative solutions, further pushing me to develop an ever-growing mindset.
Most pivotal career decision:
Beginning my legal career in-house. I was trained as a litigator but opted to take this route and be part of building something new and novel. It was challenging in the beginning, but I have since adapted.
One of the biggest challenges I’ve had to face in your in-house career journey is:
Most in-house lawyers usually have years of experience or appear to be much older before moving to become in-house lawyers. This was different for me.
Because of this realisation, I found it hard sometimes to find my voice in the grand scheme of things. I would occasionally find myself dealing with the extremes! Other transactional counsel or their clients would either be hostile or collaborative in transactions.
Those who were graceful obviously illustrated to me what being a senior in the profession is like. For those that weren’t so accommodating, I weathered the storm and continue to do so!
What advice would I give my younger self?
At the top of my mind and at the risk of sounding cliché, I would tell them to believe in themselves and their abilities; they’re capable of anything they set their mind to.
Also, try not to compare yourself or your journey to anyone; everything will come to you in time.
Key influencers that have shaped my journey:
My parents. Their support throughout my career thus far has been immeasurable.
One cool thing I’ve observed in the legal industry recently?
Favourite pro bono/ volunteer or charitable activity:
I’m a mentor with the Founder Institute, Kenyan chapter. In this capacity, I guide pre-seed start-ups on legal and compliance matters and general legal operations.
The space created by the Founder Institute is a great way to share resources with companies and founders that are bootstrapped and who would ordinarily be locked out of such invaluable insight.
If I were not practising law, I would probably be: I’d probably be into interior design or architecture with a dash of history. I have a thing for art and history.
What (singular) achievement are you most proud of? Building the legal, compliance and human resource departments at Lami and my growth as a professional thus far.
Something you love doing but you’re not that great at? Playing pool. I think my friends should tell me the truth now. LOL!
Something you dislike doing that you’re pretty good at? Cooking. Sometimes I want a nice home-cooked meal without effort. Key words are “home-cooked meal”- just to be clear, I know take-out exists, and I can get that, but that’s not what I want!
In 5 years time I’d love to be: Professionally, I’d love to see myself as a thought leader in law and technology and actively involved in policymaking in the tech and start-up space. I also hope to be leading or be part of a legal department in an exciting industry.