How do you manage legal aspects during periods of instability or crisis, and how does your legal strategy align with the overall business strategy to ensure organisational resilience? 

The most crucial aspect during times of instability or crisis is having an effective integrated risk management system, which is key to protecting and enhancing a company’s value while ensuring its continuity and sustainability over time. It is important to note that this management approach must be proactive and efficient, enabling us to build business resilience. These management systems are designed to timely identify risks the company is exposed to, assess their probability and impact, address them through appropriate measures, and continuously monitor them to prevent, as much as possible, their realisation and subsequent impact on operations. 

This kind of management also contributes to operational security, fostering resilience among employees who already know how to respond in such situations. They feel better prepared to handle crises and can act swiftly to mitigate the severity of any impacts. In other words, they become more resilient in the face of risks and can recover to continue operations and service delivery. As general counsel, our role is not just to safeguard legal matters but also to act as genuine advisors to the company’s key executives or directors.  

The effect of such risk management is to keep risks within an acceptable tolerance level, reducing the likelihood of a crisis-triggering event. However, if a crisis does occur, the company will know how to respond and adapt, even if the risks were previously unknown or unidentified, as there are already action plans or protocols in place that can be adapted to the situation at hand. 

What emerging technologies do you believe will have the most significant impact on the legal profession in the near future, and how do you stay updated on these developments? 

The ‘legal tech’ revolution has been tremendously impactful for the legal sector, as these tools have allowed the automation and simplification of routine tasks within legal departments. This not only improves the legal workflow but also contributes to the company’s overall development, bearing in mind that in-house lawyers should be part of this growth. 

Specifically, I believe the technologies that could have the most impact include: automated management of legal documents from creation to archiving through platforms or applications, and the use of AI to assist in searching for relevant rulings or case law. 

Within our legal department, we have always aimed to stay ahead and have successfully implemented these technologies, allowing us to remain at the forefront of technological advancements and their application. 

In your opinion, what are the key trends currently relevant in your country (whether legal, political, economic, or business-related)?  

The main trend from a legal perspective is being able to anticipate any critical or circumstantial situations that might arise, particularly concerning labour law, foreign exchange, and tax contingencies. These areas are likely to undergo the most significant changes in the near future.