.png)
.png)
That every cloud has a silver lining might be a cliché, but it’s turned out to be true for many in the legal industry. The global pandemic has produced a shift to more high-tech, efficient and cost-effective ways of working.
"Covid provided an unexpected opportunity to reflect and reassess on the current and future direction of the company and to ensure the correct structures and processes are in place to support the longevity of Fexco," says Margaret Maguire.
The company experienced an economic pinch due to Covid in 2020, reporting a loss for the first time. As a result it has incubated business opportunities in sustainability and renewables, diversifying its product offerings and evolving the senior leadership structure.
“One of the consequences of Covid is that we have all become somewhat inured to change in our personal and professional lives," says Maguire. Becoming comfortable with change is a good thing, especially for lawyers who are notoriously hesitant about it, and Maguire sums up the shift in attitude very neatly when she quips, "Covid put the last nail in the coffin of our photocopier."
The widespread adoption of legal tech and legal operations that has occurred in legal teams across the globe has resulted in positive impacts on efficiency, accuracy and cutting costs. Maguire notes that the move to widespread e-signing also proved to be a revelation, making the process of contract signing smoother and more efficient. “There’s no more chasing directors down corridors."
The pandemic created myriad unexpected events, one of which impacted Maguire personally. She was promoted to GC. "Being thrown into this role was probably the best thing that could have happened as I didn’t have the chance to second guess myself. I wasn’t actively pursuing advancement opportunities. Between the demands of having three young kids and a perception that I hadn’t built up enough management experience – quite simply, had I been asked I would have said I wasn’t ready – particularly had I tried to compare myself to my predecessor."
In fact, Maguire has embraced the challenge and in retrospect, realizes she was ready to take the step. Becoming a leader has been an enlightening experience. "I have come to appreciate that fostering a culture of output, being valued over hours involves a top-down approach, and sending emails at 10pm creates an expectation amongst more junior staff that they must follow suit."
Another issue important to Maguire is creating an environment where her team members feel valued and can grow, and she is also acutely aware of the benefits to be gained by generating business buy-in. As her team is hybrid, remote and in-person, she actively encourages a sense of belonging and unity. "Switching jobs is much easier to do when done from behind the comfort of your home desk, particularly if you don’t feel you are part of a team."
The “war on talent” plays on Maguire's mind, especially given Fexco’s headquarters are in rural County Kerry in southwest Ireland. And while the pandemic has resulted in many negatives, one positive is the widespread acceptance of hybrid work environments, which, according to Maguire, has "widened the pool of talent."
Pre-pandemic, Fexco had a monopoly on providing high-value interesting work to locals who did not wish to leave Kerry, but the employment landscape has changed dramatically. Thanks to the acceptance and consequent growth of remote work, competition for jobs has increased.
Maguire refuses to be daunted, she believes the shift in outlook has created an opportunity for Fexco to double down on its unique selling proposition. Everything comes down to perspective, it seems, and her glass is half-full rather than half-empty.
