How do you approach managing legal aspects during periods of instability or crises, and how does your legal strategy align with the broader business strategy to ensure the organisation’s resilience? 

Companies are daily exposed to facing crises and periods of instability. They face them with a clear strategy and values that guide them. It is essential that a legal team acts a true business partner, working hand in hand with all other members of our organisation, knowing the strategy in depth and being committed to it, so that the legal work consists of ensuring that the strategy is sustainable. We prepare for crises by knowing and managing our risks, those of our industry and of the countries where we operate, however we are always ready to react with agility, being flexible and seeking the best solution that aligns with our values and with respect of our stakeholders and the protection of our organisation’s reputation.

A guiding principle of our legal team is that we work with excellence and collaboratively, not only among ourselves but with all our company, as true partners, having ownership of our business and our challenges. We also believe in forward thinking and giving the best of us to develop our company strategy and to make sure that we achieve collaboratively the mission of our company to accelerate the future of energy.

What measures has your company taken to embed sustainability practices into its core business operations, and how does the role of the general counsel contribute to driving and ensuring sustainable practices within the company? 

The energy sector has experienced changes and transformations in recent years, guided mainly by technological developments and innovations that are allowing the use of environmentally friendlier and more sustainable energy sources, this in addition to the significant advance of climate change around the world. AES Andes has undertaken a radical transformation which is driving our company to become the leader in decarbonisation and provider of renewable and sustainable energy solutions. Our mission is to accelerate the future of energy. We believe that by pursuing our mission we are contributing to the countries where we operate in their sustainable development.

The role of the general counsel is pivotal in this transformation, guiding the company in acting transparently and ethically with our employees, communities, authorities, suppliers, business partners and interest groups. To achieve this, we have to continuously study and train and understand the impacts of our business as well as the opportunities it brings to the community. In this role we encourage the adoption of high standards of corporate governance, transparency, disclosure and due diligence as well as the incorporation into the values and actions of our company of guidelines and principles for the respect for human rights, ethical treatment and creation of value for our stakeholders.