LATAM countries your role covers: Brazil, Argentina, Mexico

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

We have played a role in supporting the subsidiaries and their boards in corporate law and governance matters, as well as supporting the division in developing partnerships and new business initiatives in the fast moving, dynamic and promising region like Latin America. We are supported by and manage a small but efficient and generalist dynamic legal team based out of Paris. Our team also participates in a wide range of issues, providing training to business on legal and compliance related topics, tailored to Tarkett’s business.

The legal team constantly grows its expertise and improves by participating in training on various subjects to ensure knowledge always up to date and on top of new developments. We are currently launching processes, negotiation guides, template agreements and tailored legal trainings to support the business and improve collaboration and efficiency while minimising risk and promoting accountability.

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

We plan to support the group’s plans for the near future by applying a business oriented and pragmatic approach. This will require being involved in preliminary stages; actively taking part in strategic decisions; and adopting a collaborative approach and a great team spirit across functions and countries to help the business achieve its goal.

The legal function has a role in bridging the gap between the local business and the group’s ambitions, not only by providing legal advice but more generally, by understanding the business and being a business partner. This also requires broad skills, levering on linguistic, cultural, economic, and geo-political knowledge

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

By combining multilingual and multicultural competency with business savviness. In general terms, being inquisitive and close to the business, building relationships across countries and functions to foster collaboration and trust which are pillars to efficiently reach targets and strategic goals.

I think it is important to be proactive, use a collaborative approach and adapt solutions to specific business needs and priorities, taking into account any local specificities. The legal team often also takes the role of creating bridges between different operational, business and management staff.

I also have a genuine interest in and knowledge of local cultures, language, and countries, bearing in mind the bigger picture and sometimes applying a “helicopter view”, understanding geopolitical and macro-economic factors and considerations. You do not only need legal competence; it makes a difference if you can leverage on other factors to succeed in your role as business partner.