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? 

Nowadays, as general counsel always have challenges during periods of instability or crises, considering that we are in VUCA environments in Latin-America. It is key to have a governance team with the business, which includes a Business Risk Matrix (BRA), also a continuity plan and a good monitoring of the political and economic situation. This is in order to align the business strategy and ensure the success of the organization. 

From a legal perspective, we are aligned with the business, and we work in five strategic pillars: competitiveness, growth, governance, risks, digital, AI, new technologies, operational excellence, and team and culture. 

What are the main cases or transactions you have been involved in recently? 

I have participated in transcendental projects and innovations in Latin America leading legal strategy. We launched, for the first time in Latin America, a Liquid IV product in Mexico. Also, I participated in launches such as: Pond’s (Mexico and Colombia), Savital (Colombia), Seda (Brazil), Tresemmé (Brazil and Argentina). 

I participated in M&A between Unilever Andina Colombia and Ulex SAS. 

I have maintained my role as a member of the Latam board of directors of the category beauty and wellbeing, also Andean Region board of directors and Colombia, participating directly in the definition of the business strategy. 

I also lead the data privacy and governance projects in Latin America: biometrics, privacy risk assessments, artificial intelligence and so on. 

What emerging technologies do you see as having the most significant impact on the legal profession in the near future, and how do you stay updated on these developments? 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the emerging technology that I believe will have the most significant impact on the legal profession. We are actively participate creating internal guides on its ethical, secure, and responsible use. As an example, lawyers at Unilever are becoming more familiar with tools such as co-counsel, an AI application that facilitates various activities related to the legal field and that allows us to review documents, extract information from contracts, summarise extensive legal documents and even make summaries of meetings. Considering this experience and my interest in properly incorporating AI into legal work, I have participated in the creation of the first Artificial Intelligence guide in Colombia that is being created by the National Association of Advertisers, of which Unilever is a member.