Few regions in PropTech may be as dynamic and challenging as Southeast Asia. Navigating diverse regulatory frameworks, varying market maturity, and compliance across multiple jurisdictions demands an entrepreneurial spirit of adventure as well as legal expertise. Introducing Madeleine Nuttall, our Director of Legal Counsel, who has overseen our transformation from online listings to fintech innovation. 

Building a Legal Function from the Ground Up

When Madeleine joined us in April 2020, she faced a unique challenge: building a legal function from the ground up in a high-growth, fast-paced environment. “I was attracted to work at PropertyGuru because it’s an ambitious, fast-growing company, and I saw an opportunity to build a legal function from scratch,” Madeleine explains. This opportunity to shape the legal landscape of a rapidly expanding PropTech company was both daunting and exciting.

The role of legal counsel in a tech company is often misunderstood and seen as a potential roadblock to innovation. But Madeleine and her team have positioned themselves as enablers of growth. “A strong legal team enables us to grow faster, scale, and innovate while minimising risk,” she asserts. This perspective has been crucial in aligning the legal function with our ambitious growth plans.

Navigating a Complex Regulatory Landscape

One of the primary challenges facing the legal team here at PropertyGuru is the diverse and rapidly changing regulatory environment across Southeast Asia. “We operate in four different markets that are dynamic and vibrant markets and where the laws are constantly evolving. It’s a challenging regulatory landscape,” Madeleine notes. This complexity requires a legal team that is not only knowledgeable but also agile and proactive.

The team’s approach to staying ahead of regulatory changes is multifaceted. As a network of lawyers across different markets, we leverage each team member’s unique skills and backgrounds. “I’m very lucky that my team—everyone has quite different legal backgrounds. We’ve all got different skills, and we definitely leverage those. We rely on one another to keep on top of the evolving regulatory landscape in our markets,” Madeleine explains.

Enabling Innovation while Mitigating Risk

In the fast-paced world of PropTech, the legal team’s ability to keep up with product development is crucial. Madeleine’s approach is to get involved early in the process. “We like to get involved early and ensure that we are aligned with the business strategies and their goals. And getting involved early really helps that. Building relationships right across the business, across all of our markets, is very important,” she says.

This proactive approach allows the legal team to anticipate potential issues and provide solutions that enable innovation while mitigating risk. It’s a delicate balance, but one that Madeleine and her team seem to have mastered. “A good in-house counsel is commercial. They are a problem solver. And they’re a business partner rather than just pointing out the risks. You’ve got to understand how things might impact the customer, the consumer,” Madeleine explains.

Addressing Emerging Challenges in PropTech

As we continue to evolve, new legal challenges emerge. Data privacy and cybersecurity have become increasingly important, especially as the company expands its data and software solutions business. “Implementing a data privacy compliance programme with our info security colleagues has been a fantastic initiative over the last few years, and a great cross-functional collaboration as well with our tech team, with the business unit heads, legal, risk, etc.,” Madeleine shares.

The rise of Artificial Intelligence in PropTech is another area where legal expertise is crucial. Madeleine points out, “This is a very new and exciting area for everyone from a legal perspective. It’s one that we’re navigating and… we are working to keep up with what’s going on in that space.”

Building a Culture of Compliance

Beyond addressing specific legal challenges, Madeleine and her team are focused on instilling a culture of compliance throughout PropertyGuru. This involves developing processes, frameworks, and policies that raise the bar for governance across the business.

“Ethics and values are very important to how we approach and solve problems in the legal team and support the business,” Madeleine emphasises. This commitment to ethical business practices is crucial for maintaining trust with customers, consumers, and investors.

The Future of Legal in PropTech

Looking ahead, Madeleine sees the role of legal counsel in PropTech continuing to evolve. “As the business grows, we as a team grow and evolve. We change the way we approach things or structure our team. It’s important that we keep up with all those updates and keep the team informed, but we will evolve as the business evolves,” she explains.

Madeleine offers some insights for professionals considering a career as legal counsel for PropTech companies. She looks for individuals who are eager to grow, willing to roll up their sleeves, and have an analytical and commercial mindset. The ability to be a generalist and adapt to various areas of law and business is crucial.

Enabling Growth Through Legal Innovation

Here at PropertyGuru, our approach to legal counsel—under Madeleine’s leadership—demonstrates how a well-structured legal function can be a key enabler of growth and innovation in the PropTech sector. By positioning themselves as trusted advisors and strategic partners, the legal team has become an integral part of our success.

As the PropTech industry continues to evolve in Southeast Asia, companies that can effectively navigate the complex legal and regulatory landscape will have a significant advantage. We believe that legal counsel is much more than a support function—it is a driving force behind achieving ambitious company goals.

“It’s amazing to work for a company that is striving to make people’s lives better,” Madeleine reflects. This sentiment encapsulates our broader mission at PropertyGuru and underscores the meaningful impact that legal professionals can have in the PropTech sector.