How do you manage legal aspects during periods of instability or crisis, and how does your legal strategy align with the overall business strategy to ensure the organisation’s resilience? 

To answer this question, it is necessary to contextualise it based on the situation of NPM Minerales, a mining company and a subsidiary of the Canadian company New Pacific Metals Corp., which is dedicated to developing mining projects in Bolivia. The company is currently focused on obtaining both legal and social licenses, which involves constant interaction with various areas and stakeholders, including corporate, regulatory, community relations, artisanal miners, and cooperatives near the operation site. 

The legal department of NPM, in addition to managing internal corporate matters and coordinating and supervising ongoing legal processes, works directly with all other departments of the company. The team provides support in each of the tasks, consultations, and conflicts that arise. Managing different crises of varying magnitudes with our stakeholders is part of the company’s daily routine. In these situations, it is essential that the strategy be coordinated with other departments and general management and is continually evaluated and adapted to align with the company’s objectives, while always complying with the current regulatory framework in Bolivia. 

What emerging technologies do you believe will have the most significant impact on the legal profession in the near future, and how do you stay updated on these developments? 

From my point of view, artificial intelligence as a consultation tool has significant potential for utilisation and application across various areas of the legal field. Additionally, operating systems for contract drafting can save and optimise time for internal legal departments in routine contracts. Similarly, tools for monitoring and verifying compliance with contracts are also valuable. 

How do you prioritise diversity and inclusion within your legal department, and what initiatives have you implemented to foster a more inclusive and equitable work environment? 

To date, NPM Minerales is in the project development stage, focusing specifically on obtaining social and environmental licenses, and has suspended all exploration activities. As a result, the staff has been reduced; however, the team still includes women in executive, administrative, and technical roles. Additionally, as part of the benefits it offers to the communities living in the area of the company’s mining project, NPM Minerales empowers women by providing training for both administrative and technical field positions. The company also supports local women in acquiring new skills in areas such as sewing, livestock, and agriculture. Our goal is to help them create micro-enterprises and become service providers for the project, thus promoting economic development and the empowerment of women in the area.