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

At CBA, our legal team recently worked for the IPO and follow-on procedures before B3, Brazilian Stock Market. We also worked in some M&A operations to invest and divest, such as the acquisition of Alux do Brasil and the sale of some nickel assets. The team has specialists in many fields of law such as mining, energy, labour, tax, environmental, corporate and contracts.

How important is choosing to work with external lawyers who align with your company’s values? Are you likely to reconsider what firms you work with based on this?

It is very important that not only in-house counsel, but also external lawyers, are aligned with the company’s values and principles, once all actions and decisions involving any company’s themes must be evaluated and guided by these principles and culture. To work in a company that has the same values and principles that we have is always a premise and motive to be proud of. I wouldn’t be able to work in a company where that alignment didn’t exist.

How do you suggest in-house lawyers build strong relationships with business partners?

Every relationship is based and strengthened with trust. Meeting the agreed deadlines and maintaining clarity of expectations and presenting good options for carrying out the expected business are essential factors for this relationship. The in-house lawyer needs to think like a company executive, understanding the business and its impacts. By doing this, the in-house lawyer will really achieve the best goals for the company and for the relationship with the internal clients.