Team size: 37

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

Nacional Gás, LPG gas distribution. This was a tankage project featured in newspapers nationwide; GEQ entered into a Joint Venture with two other major companies to develop the country’s first private LPG storage terminal, at the port of Suape in Pernambuco. A massive project that required a huge investment and direct support from the legal department.

Esmaltec’s Mais Green Program: Together with GEQ’s legal department and HR, a project was developed that formed a socio-environmental volunteer group conducting community actions around Esmaltec’s factory in Maracanaú (environmental education, sign language teaching, and financial education).

Sistemas Verdes Mares communications system: The entire television transmitter system in Brazil has been undergoing a major digitalisation process, involving the shutdown of all analogue antennas and their replacement with digital antennas. Our legal team actively participated in this project, providing support in all formalities for closing analogue licenses and obtaining authorisation for digital licenses.

Minalba Brasil – water bottling and distribution. The project of the first-ever canned water, and still with Braille language in Brazil, was undoubtedly a project that made us very proud. Our legal team advised on the entire project from the beginning; legal issues relating to the launch of the new product; definition and approval of labels; validation of terms of the partnership contract; trademark registration; and advertising expression ensuring protection of the creative and distinctive expressions used in our advertising campaigns.

What would you say are the unique qualities necessary to be successful as an in-house lawyer in your industry?

Preventive and analytical vision focused on the best problem-solving; an innovative mind that frequently questions internal activities and procedures; and the ability to multitask, adapting to all demands and effectively performing different actions in a short period are key qualities to possess in this industry.

It is vital to have robust technical knowledge and comprehensive understanding of the company’s routine processes, enabling the assessment of future scenarios and foreseeing solutions, as well as possessing a keen analytical vision to measure internal data and patterns.

Emotional intelligence and the ability to ensure clear, cordial and adaptable communication with employees at all levels in the company, is also vital.

How have you promoted closer collaboration between the legal department and your business colleagues?

I encouraged our team to think about disruptive ways of legal interaction so that all knowledge can be transferred more clearly and fluidly to everyone. We ceased to be a formal and extremely conservative legal department to become a partner and facilitator of business. This was achieved through a cultural change that led to the formation of a team with a strong sense of responsibility, commitment, and proactivity, with a sense of belonging and the understanding that through our work, we can bridge departments and facilitate improvements for other areas.

Another differentiation is our maturity in terms of using technological tools and mapped processes, with well-defined manuals and flows. This is due to a data-driven culture, and through close management of the team, as well as the participation of all, we built well-defined operational flows and procedures and trained teams, with engaged lawyers, with a collaborative spirit and a sense of being one team.

Do you have a cause, related to business or not, that you are passionate about?

GEQ is a business conglomerate with several exciting initiatives, and through its four business segments, it is present in the daily lives of all Brazilian people.

Investing in projects related to environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) issues has been a priority on GEQ’s agenda. We know that consumers and society in general are increasingly aware of the positive impact that these social projects represent in society, and for me, it is a pride to work in a group that values exercising this social responsibility so actively.