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

As in-house lawyers, our work covers various legal areas because our main role is to strategically support the business in its day-to-day affairs and long-term objectives. In this sense, our advice within adidas implies our involvement in corporate, real estate, regulatory, labour, consumer, advertising, data protection, brand protection and many other areas.

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?

Lawyers need to adapt to the times. It is important to understand that what was expected from lawyers years ago is different from what is needed today. Times have changed and everything is dynamic, especially after the pandemic, the role of in-house lawyers has become crucial. To be successful, it is key that in-house counsel understand their role as business partners. At the same time, the business needs to understand that our goals are aligned. In the end we want the same thing; for the company to succeed.

Our main role will always be to protect the company from legal risks, but it is not enough to merely know the law and advise. In-house lawyers must go the extra mile by going beyond the law. Although it is necessary, commercial teams will not be content if we are only able to highlight potential risks, they also need solutions so that the company can move forward. To achieve those solutions, corporate legal teams must think freely, they need to be creative and innovative to help the company succeed.

Successful in-house lawyers should also be agile and fast, promptness is needed and appreciated by the business, especially in the decision-making process. It is important that teams can discern which matters need to be addressed immediately and which can wait. Prioritisation is key in managing the expectations of clients and it is crucial to deliver the best possible service. Proactivity is another necessary skill to thrive in the modern industry. To be able to provide the best advice, it is important to keep abreast of the business operations as well as industry trends.

Finally, in-house teams must build strong collaborative relationships with their business partners, as when there is a problem that needs to be addressed, they will come to us. Furthermore, business partners are more likely to involve in-house lawyers in the decision-making process, and therefore we can be of greater help by highlighting early on what needs to be addressed from a legal standpoint.

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

In the retail sector, one of the main concerns for both businesses and lawyers is consumer law. Consequently, legislative changes have had a significant impact on us. Law no. 21.398 or “Pro Consumer Law” and the Electronic Commerce Regulation, which came into force in March 2022, demanded many modifications from businesses. In our case, we were already compliant in many respects. As a consumer-focused company, we aim to go beyond the legal requirements to offer our consumers the best experience. However, where changes were required, we made them quickly by cooperating internally and ensuring that all affected areas were trained.

Secondly, the Data Protection Bill that is intended to replace Law 19.628 will have a major impact on our industry. Companies have two options; wait for the bill to be passed or start implementing the necessary changes before it is published. We have chosen the latter as it is better aligned with our consumer focus and international requirements.

Law no. 21.561 or the “40-hour law” will also have a significant impact on our sector. One of the main objectives of this law is to reduce the working day limit, while also giving more flexibility to the employer-employee relationship. As for the proposed limit, it is already forcing companies to make the necessary adjustments to comply. As in-house lawyers it is vital to keep abreast of legal updates so that we can better advise our partners.