__________________________________________________ Jacqueline
Keller | Crédit Industriel et Commercial
You’ re not going to succeed in-house if you’ re a‘ no’ lawyer
Jacqueline eventually moved back in-house, holding senior roles at several leading financial institutions and most recently at Maybank. At Maybank, she led Legal and HR, later adding industrial relations to her responsibilities. Each stop added a new layer to her expertise, preparing her for the“ department of one” challenge she would eventually take on at CIC. She learned to balance the rigid requirements of regulatory compliance with the evolving needs of human capital management.
Building the foundation
At CIC, Jacqueline operates as a true corporate generalist, drafting and reviewing complex agreements, managing business disputes, and advising on regulatory hurdles.
As the first person to hold this title in the New York branch, she is building the processes that will define the legal function for years to come, creating a lasting structure.“ I use all the skills I gained through the years as a corporate generalist. I do a little of everything,” she explains.
Her philosophy on in-house counsel is simple: you must enable the business, not block it. She rejects the“ Department of No” stereotype that often follows legal teams.“ You’ re not going to succeed in-house if you’ re a‘ no’ lawyer ". Instead, she looks for creative ways to manage risk while helping the business pursue its transactional goals. Jacqueline positions herself as a partner to traders and executives, guiding them through the complex web of US and European regulations.
Self-awareness is critical to leading a legal department. Jacqueline keeps her style collaborative and often acts as a teacher for the business teams. She’ s refreshingly transparent about the limits of her own knowledge.“ I am very comfortable saying I don’ t know,” she admits.“ No one knows everything.” When an issue falls outside her purview, she brings in specialists. She believes this honesty builds more trust with the business than pretending to know everything.
Heritage and the American ethos
Jacqueline’ s drive is inextricably linked to her family history. She is the first lawyer in her
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