About

Fernanda Bardi, legal director for Wal-Mart in Brazil, has won praise for keeping a cool head in difficult times. The retailer has reportedly closed around 10% of its Brazilian outlets recently but the country remains one of its key markets and Bardi has been at the forefront of ensuring its operations are adapted to the challenging realities of Brazil’s legal structures. A rare breed amongst in-house counsel, Bardi is known for both her operational and managerial skills and for her legal expertise and strategic advice. She oversees a range of matters, including intellectual property and brand protection, tax, cross-border contracts, M&A, international compliance and environmental affairs. Before joining Wal-Mart, Bardi was legal director at Fox Brazil, where she established its legal function in the country, and legal manager for Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay at Diageo, where she implemented a systematic review of its market entry strategy. At Diageo she also introduced the “Glass is Good” sustainability and recycling initiative, for which she has received several awards.