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

The goal of legal leaders is to guide the business through cycles of discomfort by influencing collaborative and informed decisions, providing ad-hoc actionable advice, and protecting the company from reputational exposure by mitigating risks. Many uncertainties in a crisis can be eliminated by being prepared for an appropriate response. Be it with crisis resources lists, contingency plans, or running the individual response teams through tabletop exercises or communication trainings. In an acute phase, the activation of an interdisciplinary task force with a legal seat is an indispensable pillar of any crisis management strategy. Daily briefing and mailing ensure agile coordination and efficient crisis handling. At McDonald’s, soliciting opinions from McDonald’s system sponsors, such as global teams, franchisees, suppliers, and stakeholders, is unrivalled. The diversified pool helps us to make better business decisions which are not in breach of our duties and legal parameters; with focus on keeping our restaurants running and safe. It is important to keep an eye on the global business impacts of a local crisis, and at the same time, advocating for and implementing the local measures defined to overcome the crisis. To shape the right approach, we bring in external experts to support us with their objective view or proven expertise; be it our experienced outside counsels, a public relations team or security experts.  Ultimately, there is no set recipe for coping with extraordinary circumstances. But it shows foresight to have a resilient crisis team, at corporate and in restaurants, on call equipped with the right mix of legal, commercial, and personal skills. 

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?   

Establishing ESG strategies touches all parts of the business. As part of a cross-functional team, general counsel drives comprehensive ESG governance and fosters ethical business conduct. Recently, with the implementation of the Swiss ESG reporting duties. Pioneer in system gastronomy, we implement our standards and learnings beyond mere compliance hand in hand with our stakeholders. McDonald’s sustainable business transformation “Zäme en Unterschied mache” is founded in our restaurant operations and supported by our entrepreneurial franchisees, engaged crews and loyal guests. New build Drive-Thru are equipped with photovoltaic cells and all stores commit, since years, to detailed anti-littering concepts including daily clean-up-tours that are pre-approved by local municipalities. Conscious of McDonald’s scale, we take part in legislative consultation and support regulators with their efforts to reduce single-use-plastic, waste in general or promote recycling. As part of a self-regulating and anticipatory measure, McDonald’s Switzerland has introduced sustainable packaging such as sundae cup in moulded fibre and, in 2022, removed overall 200 tons of plastic. Dedicated open doors or clean-up days boost the engagement with our guests in transporting McDonald’s climate ambition. These programmes are rich in learning about ingredients in our meals sourced up to 87 % in Switzerland or our standard in animal welfare. McDonald’s code of conducts, policies, supplier contracting processes or mandatory eLearning modules for safe workplace set clear expectations on our sustainable values-led culture; an ESG framework adapted to each jurisdiction and facilitated by general counsel.