Did the pandemic lead to a lasting increase in the interaction your legal team has with the strategic plans of the company?

The pandemic brought stakeholders closer to the legal team, as the latter played a key role in the organization, especially in order to ensure compliance with legislation, reinforcing health and safety principles, in the midst of such a particular situation. In response to the pandemic, crisis management committees were created in the three main business spheres of tobacco processing, cigarette factory and sales and distribution. The legal team, an integral member of the committee, participated daily in supporting the maintenance of the company’s primary operations.

Looking forward, what technological advancements do you feel will impact the role of in-house legal teams in the future the most? Which have you find most useful in your legal team?

Technology, especially with the rapid advancement experienced during the pandemic period, serves as a strong ally of the corporate lawyer. Among the most useful and representative advances for JTI Brasil’s legal team, the electronic signature is mentioned, including for tobacco production contracts, which total around 11,000 contracts per harvest. Also, the implementation of a system for the management of powers of attorney, contracts in general and legal proceedings, organise and facilitate the mapping of all legal demands, providing the monitoring of metrics and main KPIs.

In addition, the implementation of the Legal Site, a channel that gathers information about policies and training led by the legal department, facilitated interaction with other areas of the company, ensuring more agility in meeting demands and doubts.

How do you suggest in-house lawyers build strong relationships with business partners?

The role of in-house lawyers is relevant in the corporate context, as they are knowledgeable about the business, the main demands and strategic objectives of the company. The strengthening of ties between the legal area and other areas of the company occurs through active participation in projects, strategic negotiations, training and other business demands. Active participation in projects can be illustrated through the use of agile methodology in the company’s strategic projects, in which the legal team has a fundamental role. Also, through the use of visual law in the sales contract minutes and strategic documentation that guide the contracting of tobacco production. These examples illustrate the synergy of our legal department and its business partners.