LATAM countries your role covers: Brazil, Argentina, Mexico

Could you please share the most significant cases or transactions in the LATAM region that you or your legal team have recently been involved in?

Supporting the subsidiaries and their boards in corporate law and governance matters, as well as assisting the division in developing partnerships and new business initiatives in the fast-moving, dynamic, and promising region of Latin America. I am supported by and manage a small yet efficient and versatile legal team based in Paris. This team provides a wide range of support, including tailored training on legal and compliance-related topics specific to Tarkett’s business.

The legal team continuously enhances its expertise by participating in training on various subjects, ensuring that knowledge remains current and aligned with recent developments.

We are currently launching processes, negotiation guides, template agreements, and customised legal training to support the business, foster collaboration, and improve efficiency while minimising risk and promoting accountability.

What strategies do you employ to ensure your legal advice is effectively aligned with the unique regulatory environments and cultural nuances of different LATAM countries?

Adding multi-lingual and multi-cultural competencies along with business acumen is essential. Generally, being inquisitive and staying close to the business while building relationships across countries and functions fosters the collaboration and trust that are key to efficiently achieving targets and strategic goals. It is important to be proactive, use a collaborative approach, and adapt solutions to the specific needs and priorities of the business, always considering local nuances. The legal team frequently acts as a “bridge” between operational, business, and management teams.

Working efficiently with external local lawyers and advisors to ensure the right expertise is equally crucial. Maintaining a broad perspective, sometimes adopting a “helicopter view,” helps in understanding geopolitical and macroeconomic factors. Success in this role as a business partner relies not only on legal expertise but also on the ability to leverage these additional factors.

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

With a business-oriented and pragmatic approach, support the Group’s plans and growth initiatives for the near future in the region. By being involved from an early stage, actively participate in strategic decisions and business direction, helping to achieve these plans through a collaborative approach that fosters strong team spirit across functions and countries. Legal can play a crucial role in bridging the local business needs with the Group’s broader ambitions. This goes beyond providing legal advice; it requires a deep understanding of the business and acting as a true business partner. This role also calls for broader skills, including linguistic, cultural, economic, macroeconomic, and geopolitical knowledge.