Legal vice-president, general counsel | Hoteles Decameron
Juan Pablo Barrera
Legal vice-president, general counsel | Hoteles Decameron
Team size: 16
Could you share an example of a time when you came up with an innovation that improved how your legal team works and did not come at a large expense?
In our industry, especially in the post-pandemic era, it is increasingly important to effectively communicate the value we offer our clients and to engage with them in a friendly and understanding way. This objective extends to all areas of our organisation, including the legal function. We have begun a process of modifying our agreements, incorporating legal design concepts to simplify their structure and make them more accessible and understandable to our clients, who want to visit our facilities without being overwhelmed by complex legal language and structures that are often only understandable to lawyers. In addition, we have used our internal resources and existing IT licences within our organisation to implement solutions such as Power Bi dashboards in our procurement and contract management cycle.
How do you prioritise diversity and inclusion within your legal department, and what initiatives have you implemented to foster a more inclusive and equitable work environment?
In our specific context, the inclusion of diverse team members is crucial as it allows us to take a holistic approach to problem solving, resulting in a more effective team. We have strived to structure our team by bringing together people from various backgrounds, regions, and genders. This approach allows us to assemble a highly skilled team that collaborates as a cohesive unit, leveraging their individual strengths and benefiting from each other’s knowledge and experiences. Additionally, this diverse composition promotes continuous learning, and the development of additional skill sets among team members.
What challenges have you encountered in implementing effective risk management practices, and how have you overcome them?
Risk management is inherently intricate due to its close association with the established culture and practices of the company. The greatest challenge lies in disrupting established routines when legal or political changes render previous methods unviable. Implementing changes becomes a complex task in such cases, since it involves transforming the accustomed approaches to align them with new requirements.
Legal vice president, general counsel | Hoteles Decameron