About

Legal director Júlio Cesar Beltrão is responsible for the labour and litigation matters for Unilever across Latin America. Beltrão has been praised for his ability to deliver clear and concise solutions in a timely manner. Via the simplification of internal processes and technological solutions Beltrão has successfully implemented several changes to the company’s infrastructure and manner in which the legal function operates, despite the ‘several actions required to build the infrastructure we need to manage all areas of litigation’. He has demonstrated an in-depth understanding and focus in regards to the management of litigation; Beltrão and his legal department are responsible for the organisation of the litigation database and its analysis in order to generate business intelligence prior to any decision making. Dealing with the immediate problems present as well as root causes, Beltrão oversees a ‘world class department’ with regards to litigation management. They have effectively reduced the litigation portfolio by 40% with a substantial release of financial provision, an achievement that directly affects the bottom line of Unilever. The overall expenditure of the legal division has also been reduced, helping to ensure that the legal department is viewed as a business partner. Because of this legal is now involved in significant company projects from the very beginning of the process, a feat which Beltrão describes as ‘driving the business forward’. Beltrão additionally explains that ‘knowledge is the best way to enable the business to drive growth in compliance with the law’. The legal team’s leverage of knowledge following the development of the company’s infrastructure, has ensured that they now demonstrate an active role in all strategic decisions at Unilever, an act which ensures the business is well protected against several liabilities. Beltrão spent 10 years working as a private practice lawyer at TozziniFreire Advogados, where he dealt with ‘numerous different issues’ allowing him to develop the technical knowledge required to ‘apply simpler solutions to complex issues’ in a commercial context.