Team size: 240

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

Colas is a global leader in the construction and maintenance of transport infrastructure. Colas’ legal team is present in 40 countries, and 50% of its members are based outside of France. This community supports the Group’s operations on all legal, contractual and regulatory matters, including legal and contract management, compliance, risks and insurances, audit and internal control departments.

The role of the function has been developed to ensure that legal and compliance are embedded within the business segments themselves (road construction and maintenance, rail, quarries, bitumen retail) to ensure the most efficient services. The legal function is also in charge of managing external resources (forensic, law firms, experts) when needed.

To ensure better added value for operations, our legal team members are experts in their fields, and possess very strong soft skills. Their missions include negotiation, business development, and compliance, as well as the defence of Colas’ interests with both third parties and authorities.

To develop the proficiency of our team members, we created the Colas Legal Academy, a focused, one-week training program. Each year, we bring together 20 French-speaking colleagues and 20 English-speaking colleagues in the same location. During this intensive training session, workshops are designed to achieve two primary objectives: first, to enhance their comprehension of our expectations regarding their core responsibilities, and second, to facilitate networking and foster the development of soft skills.

Over the last few years, we developed digital tools to improve our performance and monitoring in line with Loi Sapin 2 requirements.

How do you see the general counsel role evolving in France over the next five-ten years?

The fundamental missions of legal functions, which encompass analysing, preventing, and managing risks and opportunities, should persist. However, the evolving legislative landscape will necessitate a transformation in the role of the general counsel in the coming years.

The increasing regulatory demands, amplified reporting requirements, integration of AI impacting legal tasks, and the need to align recruitment with these evolving responsibilities all contribute to this shift. General counsel will play a pivotal role in managing this transition.

What are some of the main trends in the industry sector you work in in France?

The prevailing trends in the construction industry are deeply intertwined with broader societal shifts, particularly the imperative for sustainability in the face of the evolving climate crisis.

Research and development aimed at discovering materials that facilitate environmentally sustainable construction will be instrumental. However, the emphasis should extend beyond discovering new materials or construction methods; it will be equally crucial to create an environment conducive to persuading clients to embrace and authorise the use of these sustainable materials and methods. Collaborating with authorities to advocate for evolving technical standards is a key aspect of fostering this adoption.

Ethics represents another significant trend in the industry. Beyond meeting legal obligations and moral standards, there is a growing emphasis on meeting the expectations of the new generation. Colas actively promotes ethical conduct and compliance with all stakeholders, recognising that this is a fundamental part of ensuring sustainability. Striving for fair business development and operations, and safeguarding both assets and employees is at the core of our commitment to ethical practices.