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

The pandemic has shown us that the legal team and the strategic areas must be increasingly connected, in order to ensure better preparation for unexpected adversities and challenges. During the pandemic, we saw that many emergency committees were created, with the legal department having a fundamental role in these groups. This undoubtedly reinforced the need for a legal team that is increasingly integrated and knowledgeable about the business the company’s strategic plans.

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?

Having external lawyers aligned with the company’s values ​​is fundamental for the development of a lasting partnership between the company and law firms. The figure of the external lawyer and the company’s internal legal representatives are often mixed up and, therefore, to ensure the best governance, compliance and preserve the business’ reputation, it is essential that the partner is knowledgeable and aligned with the company’s values ​​and code of ethics.

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 found most useful in your legal team?

The demand for data, more specifically for the correct use of procedural data has been growing, with improving indicators pointing out the causes of structural problems within companies. Also, more technology tools, capable of capturing such information, generating indicators and eliminating repetitive tasks will be of great value to the daily tasks of any in-house counsel. Such advances free up the lawyer’s time, so that they can increasingly understand and participate in the Company’s strategy. It is also worth mentioning other technologies, such as videoconferencing, electronic signatures, contractual analysis tools, among others, already more commonly integrated into the daily lives of corporate lawyers.

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

The best way to create a strong relationship with business partners is to know the details of the industry in which they operate. Each business has peculiarities and it is only possible to contribute in a genuine way after knowing in detail your business industry, market and competitors. It is important to note that this knowledge will not always be related to legal matters, hence the need for the in-house lawyer to know and improve in areas such as management, finance, accounting, and data, among others.