Team size: In the German branch, we are two lawyers—me and another colleague.

How do you approach managing legal aspects during periods of instability or crises, and how does your legal strategy align with the broader business strategy to ensure the organisation’s resilience?

Especially in turbulent times, it is important to remain calm, focus on established structures, and clearly manage the expectations of the business, customers, and local regulator. This not only requires market knowledge, product knowledge, and related legal expertise, but it also demands a great deal of composure. It is essential to be prepared for difficult times even when conditions are favourable, particularly by enforcing internal criteria designed for such periods of instability or crises—if necessary, even against customer resistance.

In my personal experience, every relevant contractual document must be negotiated to ensure that it functions effectively in challenging situations, even if, at that point, the parties involved no longer share the same objectives, for whatever reason. The legal strategy is therefore aligned not only with the overall business strategy but also with the bank’s compliance and risk policies.

What are the main cases or transactions that you have been involved in recently?

Together with my colleagues in the legal departments in Germany, Spain, and other international branches of CaixaBank, S.A., I handle legal advice and transaction management for the entire corporate financing and lending business of the German branch in Germany, the Nordics, and the DACH region. The German branch is particularly strong in the Schuldschein market, syndicated and bilateral multi-currency term and revolving facilities, bilateral letter of credit lines, and the supply chain and receivables financing business.

Our major customer base is in the automotive, retail, logistics, energy, and construction sectors, with financing amounts ranging from EUR 20 million to EUR 500 million (and their equivalents in foreign currencies).

What role does the legal department play in promoting and ensuring corporate social responsibility in your organisation?

The legal and compliance departments (i) ensure that the organisation complies with all relevant laws and regulations related to corporate social responsibility, such as supply chain laws, labour standards, and anti-corruption regulations, (ii) develop policies that align with such legal requirements, such as codes of conduct, sustainability policies, and ethical guidelines, (iii) ensure that contracts with suppliers include clauses that promote corporate social responsibility, such as fair labour practices, environmental sustainability, and ethical sourcing, (iv) conduct training sessions for employees, and (v) advise the organisation on best practices, helping to integrate social responsibility into business strategies and operations.

What do you see as the major legal challenges for businesses in Germany over the next five years, and how are you preparing to address them?

Businesses in Germany are likely to face several significant legal challenges over the next five years, including digitalisation and data protection, evolving employment laws, supply chain due diligence, sustainability and environmental regulations, competition law, and the challenges of an ageing population and labour shortages.

To address these challenges, businesses should (i) invest in technology, (ii) stay informed, (iii) enhance supply chain management, (iv) focus on sustainability, and (v) adapt HR practices.