LATAM countries your role covers: Argentina and Brazil

What are the most significant cases and transactions in the LATAM region that you or your legal team have recently been involved in?

The headquarters’ legal department usually coordinates and leads any strategic or material legal matters and decisions in the countries where the group has its presence, including in the Latin America region. As part of the turnaround process beginning in 2019, the group has carried out strategic actions and transactions in the Latin American region with the aim of consolidating its growth. This has implied (and will continue implying) legal decisions and coordination around a wide spectrum of corporate governance, disposals, acquisitions, real estate, and retail matters.

What are your organisations plans in the LATAM region over the next 12 months and how will your legal expertise help to achieve these plans?

The group will continue working towards consolidating its growth in the markets where it operates with particular focus on the proximity of food retail. The legal group plays a substantial role in the strategic plans of the Latin American region by providing the support and guidance that the countries need in their daily matters.

How do you adapt your legal counselling to align with the diverse business practices and customs of various LATAM countries?

There is no big secret here, other than studying and learning as much as possible about the particularities of the different regions and business through regular contact with colleagues based in the relevant country. From a legal standpoint, I would add that it is key to listen to, read and adapt to the particularities of each region through quality external and internal local counselling.