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

Accenture helps clients navigate the complexities of digital transformation. As such, my team is continually engaged in innovative and challenging transactions. One of these projects involved working with a major Portuguese company to overhaul its digital channels ecosystem. This initiative focused on enabling a modern, cloud-based architecture, which increased agility by reducing dependencies on legacy systems.

We also led the negotiation of a project aimed at the international expansion of a client in the mobility infrastructure sector. This transaction involved negotiating contracts with multiple partners, managing regulatory aspects across various geographic regions, and considering the implications of adhering to public procurement regulations across different jurisdictions. In both operations, my team had to ensure alignment between stakeholders, address technical and legal complexities, establish highly robust governance models to mitigate risks, and manage timeline constraints.

What would you say are the unique qualities required to be successful as an in-house lawyer in your industry?

I would say that communication skills are more critical than ever. Effective communication is essential for explaining the concepts and legal implications of corporate decisions. We work with people from diverse technical backgrounds, so we must be able to deconstruct technical-legal language while being objective and practical to have an effective impact on the company’s decision-making.

How have you fostered a closer collaboration between the legal department and your business counterparts?

At Accenture, we are driven by the understanding that the legal function should not only mitigate risks but also add value and act as a strategic business partner. The legal team is seamlessly integrated into the decision-making processes, whether through participation in shaping proposals, strategic meetings, or by having clear processes for legal reviews and approvals in place. Demystifying legal jargon and promoting the acknowledgment of the legal framework by various business areas through tailored training sessions is something we do regularly. Finally, always keeping in mind to be objective, adopting a problem-solving approach, and being responsive to meet the fast-paced demands of our industry builds confidence and fosters collaboration.

Do you have a cause, business-related or otherwise, that you are passionate about?

I am deeply committed to championing the cause of ethical and human-centric AI. My passion lies in humanising AI, ensuring that it promotes human well-being, and advocating for a human-centric approach in digital policies. Currently, I am a member of a mission group for AI at APDSI, which promotes debate on the trends and use of AI in both the public and private sectors. Building on this, I am a strong supporter of educational reform that aims to empower students with the skills and mindset needed to thrive in an AI-driven world.

I believe it is key, through the revision of curricula, to create the conditions to enhance creative skills, critical thinking, and the ethical use of AI technologies. A generation of digitally literate individuals who thoroughly understand the implications of new technologies will be able to harness their potential for positive change and shape a more equitable and humane future for society.