Managing both claims and legal affairs for the Spanish branch of global insurance provider Hiscox, Mónica Calonje Conde is a versatile professional with substantial experience and industry recognition – having been highlighted in the GC Powerlist: Iberia in 2016. Calonje describes her main contributions as being ‘focused in supporting the business and minimising any impact that legal projects may have in business units’, and her capability to do this is enhanced by her past career trajectory.

She states her past experience has been ‘fundamental’ in shaping her career as in-house legal advisor, as she gained a ‘deep legal knowledge and work in plenty of different projects for diverse companies which has allowed me to have a wide view on legal matters’. Changing from a law firm to a legal department in an insurance company has allowed Calonje to, in her own words, ‘have more contact with the business and understand their needs to give more practical advice’. Calonje also stresses the importance of having ‘business insight working closely with the business units’ and ‘accompanying the business in its growth, not being a blocker but a facilitator’.

As standard, she expects a deep level of legal knowledge on applicable matters, which she says will ‘allow [the finding of] practical legal solutions’, as well as being up to date on legal changes and anticipating them whilst being integrated in the company and maintaining good relationships.