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

Since my arrival at Walmart, I have experienced a very significant change in the sense that every day is a new challenge. Being such a major company in the Chilean market and given the dynamics of the retail industry, every decision we make has a significant impact. Moreover, if we consider, among other things, that Walmart is one of the largest employers in Chile, the market share it has, and that we help people save money and live better, every decision, as simple as it may seem, must be evaluated considering different perspectives and scenarios. Compared to other companies where I have had the opportunity to work, Walmart is by far the largest and, therefore, simple transactions can have an unimaginable impact. That is why all day-to-day decisions are scrutinised.

In general, what would you like to see change about the external law firms you use? Examples could be greater flexibility in billing, a more expansive suite of services offered, more transparency in reporting ESG statistics etc.

Today, external law firms need to know and be involved in companies’ business. There is no longer a need for a general response mailbox. External lawyers need to propose solutions and alternatives and not just respond when requested to do so. It is especially important, for example, that when there are legislative projects, they inform the company about the impacts of the legislation on the specific business, as general information is easily accessible as is. Another issue I have identified is that the senior partner must be continuously attentive to the client. It is often the case that on less complex issues, partners tend to disappear. In my opinion, the senior partner should be informed about absolutely everything.

What diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives have you and your legal department been championing within your company’s endeavours?

Walmart promotes diverse and inclusive teams, they have proven to be more creative, engaged and in tune with our customers. Diversity and inclusion are part of our culture because we recognise and respect the value of differences and individuality. For ten years, we have had a strong diversity and inclusion policy that has enabled us to drive the structural changes necessary for all our associates to thrive on an equal footing. In parallel, we have developed the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, which includes a legal representative along with other leaders of the organisation. These initiatives have been crucial to developing a diverse and inclusive culture that enables our associates to learn, grow and maximise their potential based on their skills, efforts, and performance, regardless of their individual characteristics.

As we live in a fast-paced world today, what skills will a corporate legal team need to succeed in the modern in-house industry?

A corporate legal team needs to produce measurable business impacts and achieve results on a consistent basis to succeed in the modern in-house industry. Each member of the legal team must be familiar with and have extensive knowledge of the business. It seems to me that corporate lawyers labelled as “specialists” have fewer opportunities for growth compared to those who can be involved in different business areas. Although it is logical that there are different legal areas in a firm, I believe that communication between all of them is essential. The lawyer who can fully understand the business and keep up to date with everything that is going on around them has many more growth opportunities.