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

In the first quarter of 2023, we acquired GOMÀ-CAMPS CONSUMER, S.L.U, a company based in Zaragoza, Spain, which in 2022 had total sales of €115.6m and an EBITDA of €7.6m. This transaction is a pivotal point in Navigator Company Group’s ambitious growth and diversification plan. The integration of this new mill allows Navigator to position itself as the second largest Iberian Tissue producer, adding 35,000 tons of tissue paper production capacity.

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?

Technological advancements are one of the major factors driving the drastic evolution of the role of in-house legal teams and those that can adapt and embrace new technologies will be better positioned to provide value to their organisations. The key will be to stay up to date with the latest technological advancements and understand how they can be applied to legal work.

Several technologies are already having a significant impact on how legal teams work, including AI, blockchain, and cloud computing. AI and machine learning are already being used in the legal industry to automate tasks such as contract review and legal research. As these technologies continue to advance, they will be able to handle more complex tasks, freeing up in-house legal teams to focus on more strategic issues. This will require legal teams to have a good understanding of how these technologies work and how they can be applied to their work.

Cloud computing is already widely used in the legal industry and is likely to become even more important in the future to facilitate collaboration, automate workflows, and enhance data security.

Finally, cybersecurity is becoming an increasingly important theme in a world that is becoming more digital. In-house legal teams will need to be well-versed in cybersecurity laws and regulations and will need to work closely with IT, data protection and compliance teams to ensure that their company’s data is secure.

Our legal team is already using several of the above referred technologies and we are looking to be at the forefront of blockchain technology by being an active player in a pilot of an innovative project of smart contracts lead by a Portuguese university.

Why are in-house lawyers well-placed to drive change within their organisations?

In-house lawyers are a crucial part of any organisation, serving as legal advisors to the business and providing guidance on legal and regulatory compliance. However, their role can extend far beyond simply providing legal advice. We can play a vital role in driving change within our organisations, by leveraging our legal expertise, business knowledge, and strategic insight, helping to ensure that our organisation is compliant with legal requirements and well-positioned to achieve its goals.

In-house lawyers have a deep understanding of the legal and regulatory landscape in which their organisation operates. This means they can identify legal and compliance risks and opportunities for improvement and leverage their knowledge to develop and implement new policies and procedures that help the organisation achieve its goals while remaining compliant with legal requirements.

In-house teams are also often advisors to senior management and have access to key decision-makers, particularly if they double as company secretaries. This means they can influence the organisation’s strategic direction and advocate for change, ensuring that legal and compliance considerations are integrated into the organisation’s decision-making processes.

Finally, in-house lawyers have a strong understanding of their organisation’s culture, operations, and strategic goals by identifying areas where improvements can be made and championing those changes. By taking a proactive approach, in-house lawyers can help drive positive change and ensure that their organisation is better equipped to achieve its goals.