Team size: Seven  

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?   

In times of instability or crisis, organisations face unprecedented challenges that require a strategic and resilient response. Geistlich Pharma’s legal team needed to deftly navigate legal complexities while aligning legal strategy with broader business objectives to ensure organisational resilience.  

The first step was to gain a comprehensive understanding of the legal landscape. This included assessing existing contracts, regulatory compliance, and potential liabilities that could arise because of the crisis. We conducted a thorough legal audit to gain insight into areas of vulnerability and enable proactive risk mitigation. This involved not only addressing immediate legal concerns, but also anticipating potential long-term impacts.  

In the second step, it was critical to formulate an adaptive legal strategy, which means being agile in response to rapidly changing circumstances. Our legal team prepared for different scenarios – we had to adapt our approach accordingly. Flexibility and creativity became paramount, as we had to create legal solutions to meet the evolving needs of the business, some of which had changed as a result of the crisis.  

The synergy between legal and business strategies was fundamental to the organisation’s resilience. We worked with the executive team to align legal objectives with broader business goals. This included integrating legal considerations into decision-making processes and advising on the legal implications of strategic decisions. A harmonised approach ensured that legal actions contributed to the overall resilience and sustainability of the organisation. Keeping abreast of sanctions, export controls and trade restrictions that could affect the organisation’s operations became increasingly important.  

Establishing open lines of communication within the legal team and across the organisation was key. Keeping the executive team and other stakeholders informed of legal developments and potential impacts was critical. Fostering collaboration with other departments such as finance, operations, corporate communications, and regulatory affairs became more important than ever.  

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?   

Geistlich Pharma’s legal team provides guidance on the legal implications of sustainability practices. This includes interpreting and navigating complex regulatory landscapes, advising on compliance requirements, and offering legal strategies to advance sustainable initiatives. Our legal team serves as an advocate for sustainable policies within Geistlich Pharma. By promoting ethical and responsible business practices, our team influences decision-making processes and encourages the adoption of policies that prioritise sustainability.  

We also play a role in educating employees about the legal and ethical dimensions of sustainability. This includes conducting training programs to raise awareness of compliance requirements, ethical conduct and the broader implications of sustainability for Geistlich Pharma.  

The legal team oversees the monitoring of sustainability performance and ensures accurate reporting. This includes working with relevant departments to establish key performance indicators, track progress and prepare reports for internal and external stakeholders, thereby reinforcing Geistlich Pharma’s commitment to transparency.