With the merger now complete, the priority is to ensure the successful integration of the legal function. There are more than 70 lawyers across the group. We have a small team at the group corporate centre in London, with teams in the various businesses reporting through to the general counsel of their particular business. I have functional leadership responsibilities for all lawyers across the group to ensure the board is properly briefed, legal risks are understood and effectively managed and succession planning is undertaken.

During the next year we will be working together to ensure all our lawyers feel they are part of the ‘legal family’; that we use the expertise in the group as effectively and efficiently as possible and leverage the buying power of the group, both in the use of external lawyers and in technical support.