Team size: Three

Key team members: Helge Köhlbrandt, Gertraude Zöhrer, Ruth Brandstätter, Julia Arztmann

Could you share an example of a time when you came up with an innovation that improved how your legal team works and did not come at a large expense?

We started a virtual weekly 1,5 hrs team meeting during Covid together with the legal team in Germany (altogether around 15 people), which was continued given it has proven to be highly efficient when it comes to share new developments, discuss hot topics such as new legislation, flag issues and new case law and discuss how everyone can contribute to joint efforts and strategies within Group Legal. By that we save hundreds of emails, increase efficiency within the team, ensure that everyone is equally informed and involved and allow personal discussions and exchange of experiences.

Apart from legal matters, has the team worked on other company initiatives?

We are actively engaged as a team of trusted, valued and innovative business partners. Our vision is to contribute to people’s development, be role models, build and leverage knowledge, drive sustainability value creation and engage externally in important things that matter to us – including but not limited to diversity, human rights, gender-equality, non-discrimination and non-harassment, safety and health at work, access to education, corporate social and environmental responsibility, right to food and access to nutritious, affordable and adequate diets and many more. Legal is part of all of this and we are proud not only to assist, but to be a driver in major Nestlé initiatives. We are also proud that our global head of legal Leanne Geale is taking the lead in Nestlé’s human rights framework and roadmap within Nestlé globally and we are happy to contribute to her work as a team.

Can you sum up the team culture/ethos in one sentence?

Enable and protect!

Legal and Compliance function is a major driver to enable and protect the company to meet business and ESG goals. We are a trusted business partner in developing and delivering products that support a healthier future. Maintaining high food safety standards. Challenging ourselves to improve our management systems to guarantee quality. Ensuring all people in our value chain take ownership of product quality and safety. And protect the people – our customers, Nestlé employees and all people within the supply chain.