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

ReSimple’s legal team, as the largest waste management system, is focused on incorporating producers from all types of industries into the system, entering into agreements with various municipalities and public/private entities throughout the country, and conducting the necessary bidding processes to enable the proper collection, treatment, and recycling of packaging subject to the Extended Producer Responsibility Law. ReSimple is a highly regulated company, whose authorisations were obtained from the Competition Tribunal and the Ministry of Environment. We are very proud to be part of the implementation of this public policy in Chile, after many years of work by various actors, whose objective is to take care of our society’s resources.

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

In-house lawyers today are exceptionally placed to drive change within their organisations. They are involved in day-to-day operations and the general counsel is a key part of the management team. They are also involved in the company’s business strategy and are involved in all angles of business decision-making. Moreover, with the expansion of the role of the legal department in recent years/decades, the role is no longer limited to legal matters but, depending on the various issues faced by the organisation, the role may also include issues such as ethics, public policy, ESG, diversity, labour relations, public affairs, and more. Thus, there are a number of issues that fall within the scope of the general counsel’s involvement, which he or she can directly influence. It is essential that the general counsel builds partnerships within the organisation and creates the governance framework necessary to identify, understand and manage opportunities to drive change within the organisation and in the way it relates to external parties.

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?

The work of a corporate legal team is difficult and demanding. It involves being part of the business team and ensuring that the company’s core activities are carried out, while also making sure that they are done correctly from a legal, ethical, and socially responsible perspective. To be successful in the modern industry, in-house lawyers must not only be legal experts, but also have the business acumen to properly understand the company’s activities and advise with a broad view in business decision-making. Due to the fast-paced environment in which business is often conducted, in-house lawyers need to be agile and independent in completing their tasks, eager to learn and continuously expand their knowledge of legal and non-legal matters relevant to the business. It is important to be personable and network with others to facilitate cooperative and collaborative work with other departments. I have found that courage is one of the most important personal skills a general counsel must have, you must be prepared to speak up in high-pressure situations and, at times, be a lone voice among a group of powerful people.

What diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives have you been championing?

I have a deep commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, with an emphasis on the gender gap, and I have actively participated in the promotion and defence of these values. For me, it has been an important way to give back to the legal and business community and to promote social change. In December 2021, I received the Chambers and Partners D&I In-House Lawyer of the Year Latin America award, which was one of the proudest moments of my career. Since 2018 I have been part of the Female Lawyers’ Committee of the Chilean Bar Association, which promoted the modification of the association’s statutes to include gender quotas in the composition of its board of directors. We worked for several months on this initiative, which was approved in January 2019, ensuring that the board of the Chilean Bar Association will have a representation of each gender of at least 40%. This is the first professional association in Chile to incorporate gender quotas in its internal regulations. I am also a member of Red de Mujeres Alta Dirección, which is an organisation made up of professional women and businesswomen with a track record in executive positions, committed to adding value to public and private organisations through the incorporation of female talent in senior management. Since 2021, I have also been a member of The International Society of Female Professionals (ISFP), an organisation dedicated to connecting, supporting, empowering, and advancing like-minded professional women. Finally, between 2021 to 2022, I served as a board member of the Chilean Chapter of Women in eDiscovery (WiE), a non-profit organisation focused on providing women with legal technology education, networking, and leadership opportunities.