Team size: Three   

Major legal advisers: Nicola Bonante (Gatti Pavesi Bianchi Ludovici), Massimiliano Mostardini (Bird & Bird) 

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?   

As general counsel of a medium-sized company, I noticed that my legal team was spending a significant amount of time conducting legal research, which often slowed down the decision-making process and consumed valuable resources. To address this challenge, I decided to explore innovative solutions that could streamline legal research without incurring a large expense.  

After careful consideration and collaboration with the IT department, I implemented a virtual legal research assistant (VLRA) using existing artificial intelligence and natural language processing technologies. The VLRA was designed to assist the legal team in retrieving relevant legal information, analysing cases, and summarizing key findings from various legal databases and online resources.  

The implementation of the Virtual Legal Research Assistant brought several notable benefits to the legal team and the organization, in terms of time efficiency, resource savings (minimal hardware upgrades, with low cost of implementation), enhanced productivity, increased accuracy and scalability (the VLRA’s capabilities could be easily scaled up).  

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

The role of the general counsel is moving from being a lawyer to be business strategist and advisor. Therefore, in the next five years, general counsel, in addition to being able to work in any area of law, will need to become comfortable playing a role in a vast range of other business functions, from audit to executive management to human resources to media relations.  

Furthermore, general counsel will likely see increased adoption of legal technology, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, and automation tools. These technologies can streamline legal research, contract management, and compliance tasks, allowing general counsel to focus on more strategic and complex legal matters. As a consequence, and, as well, with the growing importance of data privacy and cybersecurity, general counsel will need to play a more significant role in advising organizations on data protection, regulatory compliance, and incident response.  

Finally, organizations are facing increasing scrutiny regarding ethical practices and compliance with regulations. General counsel will play a vital role in ensuring that companies adhere to legal and ethical standards. Therefore, the legal profession, like many others, is recognizing the importance of diversity and inclusion. General counsel may take a more active role in promoting diversity within their legal teams and organizations and addressing issues of bias and discrimination.  

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

I am currently working for a key-player in the Italian coffee market. Despite Italian market has always been considered rather conservative, the demand for premium products has been increasing across the board. In the specialty coffee market, the company expects to see a continued emphasis on sustainability, with more roasters and cafes focusing on ethically sourced beans and environmentally friendly practices. There may also be a general increase in the popularity of single-origin coffees, as well as an uptick in the use of specialty brewing methods like pour over and cold brew.  

Anyway, a clear sense of purpose about sustainability will emerge as a major priority in the coffee industry. Elements like traceability and transparent supply chains will naturally underpin any efforts on this front.  

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?  

The environment is a primary asset that Kimbo is committed to safeguarding; to this end, the company schedules its operations with a view to achieving a balance between economic initiatives and the essential requirements of the environment. Moreover, Kimbo is committed to minimising the environmental impact of its operations and to preventing risks for the populace and the environment, in accordance with current legislation. In this regard, Kimbo is ISO 14001:2015-certified and has developed its own environmental management system, complete with procedures and operating instruction. 

Kimbo’s sensitivity and commitment towards the environment and sustainability are also embodied through the production of eco-sustainable products, the raw materials of which (coffee beans) come exclusively from plantations certified by the Rainforest Alliance. Moreover, Kimbo has an ongoing system for Health & Safety and Corporate Social Responsibility that complies with the reference standard (OSHAS 18001) and the SMETA Code. The objective is to achieve greater efficiency in the management of company processes and more effective personnel management.  

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?   

Emerging technologies are undoubtedly revolutionizing the practice of law and the delivery of justice, reshaping how law is practiced and justice is delivered, providing opportunities for increased efficiency, transparency, and accessibility. These technologies, indeed, can parse through large volumes of data, identify patterns, and make predictions, making them invaluable tools for legal research, with a reduction not only of the time spent on manual review but also of the human error, increasing the overall accuracy and quality of work.  

As legal professionals, it is our responsibility to embrace these technologies while mitigating their potential risks, to better serve our clients and society at large. To ensure compliance with laws and regulations in the context of technology usage, is essential to promote the implementation of security measures (secure data storage, encryption, and access controls), and ensure the conduction of regular audits to identify potential compliance gaps or vulnerabilities and provide, as well, proper and periodical trainings to all employees (including lawyers and support staff) on data protection practices and technology usage guidelines.  

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?   

In my role as general counsel, I reviewed existing policies to ensure they are inclusive and equitable: anyway, just creating/reviewing policies and programs is not enough. I rather consider flexible work arrangements, parental leave policies, and other benefits that support work-life balance and diverse family structures. Moreover, I foster an inclusive communication culture by encouraging open discussions about diversity-related topics: awareness plays an important role in countering bias and promoting diversity and inclusion. As well, I use inclusive language and (I make my best to) ensure that all team members’ voices are heard and respected.  

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?   

Structuring and executing an M&A involves numerous legal considerations to ensure compliance, minimize risks, and facilitate a successful deal. The legal department plays a critical strategic role in overseeing and guiding the process.  

Overall, the legal department’s involvement is critical throughout the M&A process, from initial due diligence to post-closing integration, ensuring that the transaction aligns with the company’s goals and is executed successfully while complying with relevant laws and regulations.  

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

One cause I am passionate about and that I consider business-related is promoting corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability within the business world. I believe that embracing corporate social responsibility and sustainability is not just about ticking boxes or meeting regulatory requirements; it’s about making a genuine and lasting positive impact on the world around us. As the general counsel, I will actively advocate for and support initiatives that align with these principles and meet sustainable development goals, ensuring that our company not only thrives financially but also remains a responsible and conscious member of society.