Team size: Six

Country: Panama  

Could you please share an example of a time when you came up with an innovation that improved the way your legal team works and did not come with at a large expense? 

In our strategy meeting at the end of last year, we discussed how to make some of our routine processes even more efficient in 2023. We received feedback from our top clients and agreed to launch a SharePoint for non-legal teams, where we organised all the public information on each of the legal entities in the countries in which we operate in Latin America. In this secure SharePoint, our clients can easily browse, view, and download information related to bylaws, meeting minutes, route contract templates, leaders and representatives of each company, and several Playbooks. This has allowed us to be more agile and efficient and to focus on other relevant topics. 

What are some key developments (legal, geopolitical or otherwise) that have impacted your business over the past year? 

Working in any country in Latin America implies doing business in turbulent and volatile markets, which requires strategy, agility in decision-making, and the ability to adapt to very fluid situations. This year was no exception. At Kimberly-Clark we have the experience and the right people in place to face the different crises that impact the way we do business: social protests, inflation, pressures on raw materials, devaluation, exchange rate differentials. 

How do you see the role of in-house counsel evolving over the years? 

The role of in-house counsel for a company is constantly evolving. Supported by new technologies, attorneys must constantly evaluate how to reduce routine work, make document review and due diligence more efficient, and make better informed decisions based on risk assessments. 

Attorneys must find ways to focus on high-level analysis, define long-term strategies, and enhance our capabilities to remain strategic partners with other functions. 

Do you use any ‘legal technology’ solutions and, if so, for what areas do you find them most useful? 

At Kimberly-Clark, technology is a powerful lever that helps us to improve the way we do business and strengthen our areas, including Legal. We have solutions to proactively integrate Data Privacy considerations in the development of new business, systems, services, and internal processes, for example. In some regions, we use technological solutions to monitor lawsuits, issue invoices for legal fees, approve and manage contracts and so on.