What are the most significant cases or transactions that your legal team has recently been involved in?

We were very active on specific constitutional claims, where the due process of end-to-end encryption on messaging apps and blocking orders as penalty for noncompliance with wiretapping orders is at issue. WhatsApp is directly involved in these matters and so far, landmark opinions have been released, upholding end-to-end encryption, acknowledging that Brazilians have a fundamental right to encryption, and finding blocking unconstitutional for violating freedom of communication, freedom of expression, and being a disproportionate sanction. Additionally, we incorporated and licensed Facebook Instituição de Pagamento do Brasil (FBP), as a payments entity with the Central Bank, and launched a person-to-person transactions on WhatsApp, provided by FBP.

Lastly, we have responded to several user data requests from the Supreme Court, Federal Police, and Congress, relating to criminal or congressional investigations into misinformation and the government’s handling of the pandemic.

How important is choosing to work with external lawyers who align with your company’s values? Are you likely to reconsider what firms you work with based on this?

For us it is essential, as we only work with external counsel that aligns with Meta’s values, and we only reconsider what firms we work with, based on that alignment and on their development in work policies or closeness to our values.

As we live in a fast-paced world today, what skills will a corporate legal team need to succeed in the modern in-house industry?

I would say that it is important to have the ability to ruthlessly prioritise the company’s and department’s goals, specifically on the business side, and to develop a healthy work-life balance, to guarantee your more than capable of achieving success.

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

To build a strong relationship with your business partners, I believe it is important to develop a thorough understanding of the business, to have a problem-solver mindset, and to deliver objective and actionable legal advice.