Please note: Martin has now moved onto a new role 

Team size: 28  

How do you approach managing legal aspects during periods of instability or crises, and how does your legal strategy align with the broader business strategy to ensure the organisation’s resilience?  

Don’t let a good crisis go to waste! Periods of instability or crisis also always present an opportunity to learn, adapt and come out stronger. During challenging times, it is even more important to stay closely connected to the team and key stakeholders and to look out for each other to ensure personal wellbeing and resilience to overcome the challenges facing the company. 

Periods of instability or crisis also often come with higher compliance risks, as people are under pressure and more at risk of taking shortcuts, requiring more vigilance and awareness building. In times of uncertainty, the legal strategy may have to be revisited to ensure it still aligns with the business strategy; and that it sets the right priorities and focus to allow co-piloting the business through the crisis.  

What measures has your company taken to embed sustainability practices into its core business operations, and how does the role of the general counsel contribute to driving and ensuring sustainable practices within the company?  

Sustainability has long been one of the cornerstones of Barry Callebaut’s strategy to drive long-term value for all our stakeholders, including cocoa farmers and business partners in origin countries. Sustainability is part of Barry Callebaut’s DNA, and it is recognised as a frontrunner in the field.  

We have set ourselves ambitious sustainability and ESG targets and defined respective KPIs, on which we report annually. We also have a sustainability target as part of our short-term incentive plan. The general counsel and legal and compliance functions are critical to ensuring sustainable practices by making sure that all suppliers along our supply chain abide by our standards and sustainability requirements (through contractual commitments and acceptance of Supplier Codes); creating awareness for, and training employees on, sustainable practices and regulatory requirements; and by managing legal and compliance risks linked to structural issues in the cocoa supply chain, among others. 

What emerging technologies do you see as having the most significant impact on the legal profession in the near future, and how do you stay updated on these developments?  

AI, and specifically, GenAI solutions that are coming on the market and that are transforming the way legal departments and law firms operate and provide advice. This will help achieve significant efficiency gains, shorten response times and free up time to focus on more strategic topics. It will also lead to different skillsets being needed in legal departments to leverage technology and the gains it brings, such as data analytics.  

It is important to constantly scan the market for new solutions, proactively engage and exchange experiences with peers on new technology.