Team size: Seven

Which recent political, economic, or regulatory changes have impacted the company and the team the most?

Aviation and tourism went through the largest crisis in recent history. Since 2020, we have dealt with health threats, lockdowns and travel restrictions which have highlighted the vulnerable nature of aviation. The travel industry will become quite different from what we were accustomed to, especially after the recent developments in Ukraine. The crisis has favoured the non-physical contact economy, with legal implications on GDPR. In parallel, the EU Green Deal has led to the emergence of an extremely complicated legal framework that creates new obligations for companies, aiming to achieve the transition to net zero carbon emissions in a short time frame. Supporting our industry through European and national funds has been critical to mitigate the effects of the crisis. The cooperation between the legal department and the management has been more crucial than ever. Nowadays, companies must ensure that they have a robust governance framework in place to address and manage risks that the shifting political environment may generate.

In what ways do you see the in-house legal role evolving in your region over the next few years?

The role of in-house lawyer is rapidly changing; companies are increasingly relying on digital, and regulations surrounding that are becoming more complex than they used to be. Pressure for cost-cutting is growing, while automation is creating new routes to efficiency. While it can be firmly stated that internal client experience will still be at the heart of legal delivery, any legal process will become automated, and self-service enabled. It will ensure more efficient risk management and increase productivity, freeing up time for the legal team to focus on more demanding tasks. Managing culture and open mindset will be essential to drive successful legal operating models. Legal teams’ leaders will need to act as catalysts of change in cooperation with the management team.

How has the increasing consciousness of climate change and sustainability affected the company and the team’s priorities?

Companies have realised that carbon emissions have a steep price, both financial and social. Our “route 2025” project underlines our commitment to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2025. We are also investing in the expansion of the photovoltaic park covering the airport’s electricity needs by adopting renewable energy produced on its premises. Sustainability in the economic and labour field is supported through employee’s protection and social cohesion. The legal department has a decisive role acting as a mediator between the management and all the stakeholders, seeking to obtain mutual and sustainable results.