Team size: Seven 

Major legal advisers: Gianni Orrigoni Grippo &P, Giuspubblicisti Associati, Legance  

Could you share an example of a time when you came up with an innovation that improved how your legal team works and did not come at a large expense? 

I decided to move our entire legal work to SharePoint. This significantly optimised our processes in terms of knowledge management and smart archive. 

Can you foresee any key developments to the way general counsel work over the next five years? 

Considering the innovation and competitiveness of the energy market, the objective shall be to select few law firms to work with on a long-term basis. This relationship will require trust and shared competence to reach mutual agreement on certain topics. 

What measures has your company taken to embed sustainability practices into its core business operations, and how does the role of the general counsel contribute to driving and ensuring sustainable practices within the company? 

We implemented an ESG report and recently, the REI board of directors appointed a specific committee to define and implement the REI Group ESG strategy. 

I decided not to be in the committee in order to be able to assist the managing director as a super partes and provide pro-veritate support in assessing the ESG development or implementation initiatives. 

How would you assess the impact of new technologies on the legal landscape in Italy, and what measures would you propose to leverage these technologies while ensuring compliance with relevant laws and regulations? 

In my opinion, Italy falls short because general counsel are not afforded the privilege of confidentiality that the professional lawyer has. In France, for example, this is not the case. I believe the general counsel would be more efficient in ensuring compliance if the organisation knows that he is covered by the privilege of carrying out the legal and compliance tasks.  

How do you prioritise diversity and inclusion within your legal department, and what initiatives have you implemented to foster a more inclusive and equitable work environment? 

My team is my main priority. As a small team, it is easy to support each other when someone has a specific need.  

What legal considerations should be taken into account when structuring and executing an M&A, and how can the legal department play a strategic role in facilitating a successful M&A transaction?   

The following should be considered when structuring and executing an M&A: 

• Ensuring compliance of acquisition’s strategy, corporate values and ESG standards. 
• Assess the disposition of the top management of the target company.  
• If the decision is to proceed with the assistance of external legal advisors, try to understand the counterparty’s lawyer in order to make the process as seamless as possible. 

What is a cause, business-related or otherwise, you are passionate about, and why?  

I am passionate about triathlon sports. I believe triathlons pushes you to develop multiple soft skills that can also be applied in both professional and family environments.