LATAM countries your role covers: Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Venezuela, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia, Panamá, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Haití

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

We were involved in the transaction between Unilever and Upfield, which involved selling our Spread business to Upfield, including the factory, assets and brands. Our team consolidated the beauty and wellbeing legal structure in Latin America and contribute with to the strategic business plan in Unilever. We also participated in upskilling the Legal team in beauty and wellbeing subdivisions, and in digital, data privacy and artificial intelligence.

The legal team developed an agile methodology to be more strategic, efficient, and enhance synergy; participated in the transformation and development of the HUB Palmira which include four lines of business in Colombia (liquids, powder detergents, soaps and nutrition); and worked to secure more than 1200 job positions (directly and indirectly with business partners).

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?

We aim to consolidate Pamira´s HUB in Colombia as one of the most innovative plants in the region. Legal serves as a business partner to the Factory and all the business units which are part of the HUB. Our advice is based on commercial, labour, product and consumer law, competition, data protection and privacy, and operational excellence matters, among others. We also plan to consolidate the beauty and wellbeing legal structure in Latin America, based on strategic pillars. Through agile methods, the legal team will contribute to the business growth and culture.

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

The legal team needs to have strong stakeholder management skills and be agile or flexible. They must also be able to from a legal and business perspective, and from a digital and cybersecurity point of view.