With so many key members of the 500-plus Altenar team, we thought it only right that we give some of our most valuable employees their moment in the spotlight.
This week’s spotlight shines on General Counsel Maria Sandler as we continue our ‘Get To Know You’ series of interviews.
How long have you been a member of the Altenar team and what made you want to join the company?
I joined the Altenar team in 2021, so I have been with the company for almost four years. It was an exciting time to join and help shape Altenar’s legal and compliance department. I wanted to join Altenar as it was an ambitious and exciting player in what was a new industry for me, and I wanted to be a part of that.
What are your main roles and responsibilities here at Altenar?
My main roles and responsibilities at Altenar are to oversee the company’s legal and compliance departments and to help manage risk and formulate strategy.
What do you think makes you good at your job/what you do?
I think in this role, it is important to remain calm under pressure, be unafraid to make decisions, and be a clear communicator.
How does your department help the company reach its overall targets and goals?
We are here to service the entire business from a legal and compliance point of view and lay the groundwork for strong business relationships, both with clients and suppliers. With good corporate governance, it assists with the expansion of the business by obtaining and maintaining licenses in various areas of the world.
What are the key skills you need to be a success in your team/department?
I think good communication is vital—both in person and in writing. In order to do the best job possible, we need to know and understand the business, including its people. We can then create proper frameworks and networks to support relevant teams and departments.
How do you expect your role in this industry to change and develop in the future?
As the industry becomes more and more regulated, including from a B2B perspective, we will need to continue to be agile and proactive in relation to compliance and licensing and use technology to help us stay ahead of the curve.
Tell us about your career prior to joining Altenar…
I worked in the City of London, both in private practice and for investment banks, including Credit Suisse and HSBC. I specialized in financial services litigation and regulatory investigations.
What’s the one thing you’d love to change about your role/industry?
I’d like to see legal/compliance teams fully entrenched in the business. Where one is operating in-house, to properly assess risk and service the business, it is absolutely vital to understand the way the business lifecycle works, from development to sales. Perhaps mandatory secondments to all departments!
What did you want to do as a job/career when you were a child?
I liked the idea of being a fashion designer but sadly lacked any drawing skills.
Away from work, do you have any hidden talents?
I play the piano and did so quite seriously until I was 18. I am a bit rusty now, though.
What's your biggest achievement away from your work career?
I think I have to say my family, or they might disown me.
