Head of legal | Automobili Lamborghini
Maria Francesca Portincasa
Head of legal | Automobili Lamborghini
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?
Managing legal issues worldwide leads to a huge workload. For this reason, in the last three years, we have been working hard to understand the major needs of our regions and to provide suitable, easy to use drafts of the most common contracts and legal documents that provide uniform conditions over the world. This activity was completely developed internally and contributes to a dramatic reduction in legal expenses.
Furthermore, an AI software was introduced to simplify the efforts in managing the most common contracts and to provide an archive that allows easy access to documents. Lastly, digital signatures and an internal workflow system optimised the use of more common agreements and contributed to quicker and more efficient finalisation of documents.
What are some of the main trends impacting the industry sector you work in in Italy?
I think that the most important trend that we are facing right now is the increased reliance on electricity and greater focus on the reduction of CO2 emissions. This would lead to a substantial change in the legal framework as cars will be equipped with more innovative devices, such as ADAS and connected services, that poses different challenges compared to the past.
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?
Being a woman implies that I am very sensitive to diversity and inclusion and the team is composed mostly by women in a multicultural environment. The team is an example of how women can proceed with their career and be both mothers and managers. The team provides support to all members, and we create a friendly environment that encourages open communication.
After some time in private practice, and during her PhD in European Law, Maria Francesca Portincasa joined Automobili Lamborghini as a consultant and contributed to the creation of the legal department. She later officially joined the company and become head of legal, reporting to the managing director and CFO.
Maria is responsible for all company legal matters worldwide, including intellectual property, antitrust, criminal and general civil matters, motorsports, corporate governance, product liability, and regulatory matters. She is responsible for managing the company’s trademarks, design. patent registration and strategy and manages any litigation or legal proceedings worldwide.
Maria is also member of the internal committee responsible for product safety. Additionally, she is in charge of preparing minutes of the board of directors and shareholders’ meeting and oversees the drafting and advising of company contracts and other legal documents.
In the last three years, the team has significantly changed and has gotten involved in implementing new global strategies and innovative technologies, such as AI for archiving and managing contracts, showing comprehensive knowledge of the sectors and being capable of providing support to all areas.