Team size: Six

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

The legal department that I have the honour to lead has been involved in complex contract negotiations with B2B and B2C companies. We have also worked on the corporate restructuring of one of the group’s companies. In addition, we have dealt with administrative and legal cases related to data protection and intellectual property. There has also been a significant strengthening of the compliance policies of our local organisation. Furthermore, we have led the legal strategy in national and international insurance disputes with significant amounts that have had a high impact on the reinsurance market. Lastly, we have successfully assisted in major civil lawsuits defending the company’s interests.

How important is choosing to work with external lawyers who align with your company’s values? Are you likely to reconsider what firms you work with based on this?

It is definitely very important that the legal firms that support us in our cases are aligned with the values and principles that we profess at MAPFRE. Therefore, when analysing the renewal of a sponsorship contract or seeking new strategic legal allies, what we look for is that they are aligned with our principles; comprising of zero corruption, gender equality, diversity, care and protection of the environment and sustainability, among others. It is highly unlikely that we would consider a relationship with firms that are not aligned with these values.

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?

Undoubtedly, legal departments and in-house lawyers should not only emphasise company rules but actively contribute to creating better agreements to the company’s benefit. Negotiation skills are crucial for in-house lawyers in today’s fast-paced business world, where agility matters more than lengthy bureaucratic processes. We must accompany the core business areas to generate better results. Furthermore, I believe that understanding the business outside of the legal sphere is essential. The role of corporate lawyers has evolved, and we are absolutely an important part of the overall strategy.