Team size: 61

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

Over the past two years, the legal team’s main efforts have focused on regulatory issues and impact mitigation, mainly in our health insurance business (Isapre), alongside a scenario of high judicialisation and challenging negotiations with different counterparties, including the government. In addition, the team has faced important challenges associated with the changing environment of healthcare provision in Chile. We have also been involved in major real estate negotiations, arbitrations, mergers, and acquisitions. We have also developed a new data protection model to adapt to legislation that is soon to be passed in Chile.

Why are in-house lawyers well-placed to drive change in their organisations?

There is no doubt that in-house counsel is crucial to promote change, growth, and innovation in companies, in a sustainable and compliant manner. In-house counsel must be able to be participate in new projects from the beginning and must be allowed to influence them, thus ensuring efficient use of resources and adequate risk mitigation for the company.

If existent, can you talk about you or your company’s efforts relating to renewability, sustainability, or other environmentally friendly activities?

Bupa seeks to improve the health of the planet, as it is directly related to the health of people. We have a very ambitious sustainability agenda, with initiatives across a wide range of environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues. Our strategy is divided into three missions: Mission Zero, Mission Accelerate and Mission Regenerate. In Bupa’s Mission Zero globally, by 2040, we aim to be a net zero company, among other initiatives. In the Regenerate pillar, we seek to improve people’s health by caring for nature and biodiversity. In this line, we launched the Healthy Cities programme, which seeks to promote physical activity among people while improving and creating healthier cities with a better environment. In the Accelerate pillar, we seek to promote initiatives through research, collaboration, and innovation. For example, in Chile, together with the Global Change Centre of the Catholic University, we are developing a study that relates temperature changes in our country to the incidence of ambulatory health care.

What are some of the main legislative or regulatory changes that have impacted you?

Chile has been facing discussions regarding the health system and especially health insurance for several years. In recent years, the judiciary has directly interfered in health-related public policy, legislating through rulings. The Chilean Congress has been slow to make the necessary legislative and regulatory changes to ensure the viability of the current health system or to propose a new one. Undoubtedly, this has been the biggest regulatory challenge we have faced and are still facing.