Could you share an example of a time when you came up with an innovation that improved the way your legal team works and did not come at a huge cost?

For our team, efficiency is key, having a preventive vision allows us to manage the area in a better way. We rely a lot on the regionally designed tools to apply them in Bolivia, an example of this is the compliance issues in specific declarations of conflict of interest that both legal departments in Peru and Bolivia have had to implement. Having the technological solutions that allow us to store files digitally and thus manage them also adds efficiency to our day-to-day operations. We understand that from our legal service role, we must accompany the business from the conception of an idea to its completion. This guarantees that the service is given correctly and in a timely manner.

What are some of the key developments that have affected your business over the past year?

I believe that the Bolivian environment is giving more visibility to the importance of a culture of compliance in companies and the vision of ESG as a business strategy. Both the culture of compliance within the organisation requires that the role of the lawyer be more proactive and that of a “guardian” to the business, being the ally of management so that they can rely on the legal team as a guide, building this culture of compliance is a task of great importance.

Understanding that the business environment is adopting the vision of ESG and how Nestlé also promotes it as Creation of Shared Value, implies that the role of the lawyer is immersed in this issue and must be prepared. One of the main objectives we have in Bolivia is changing the mindset so that the legal service orientation remains integral but can adapt to the new requirements of the business environment.

How do you think the internal legal role will evolve in the coming years?

In the Bolivian context, I believe that the in-house legal role will continue to evolve into an integral strategic ally of the business. The external factors that are part of the business environment must be analysed by the legal team to accurately understand the environment and focus on the value that management requires to guarantee the continuity of the business and the total compliance of the operations. It will require that the lawyer adapts and has a mentality of innovation and efficiency on a day-to-day basis, without losing sight of the essence of the legal service role to all internal clients. For this, it is essential to understand the main stakeholders, how the legal service is delivered, and to be a guardian of the business reputation.

Do you use any legal technology products and, if so, for what areas of your work do you find them most useful?

We have several global tools that allow us to improve response times. I consider the main one, in Bolivia, the management of digital files and repositories of declarations of conflict of interest.