Team size: Four 

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 am unsure whether it can be considered an innovation as such, but contrary to other commercial realities which seem reluctant to involve lawyers directly at early stages of a negotiation, I firmly believe in, and have encouraged, the development of a customer-facing legal department. This enables each member of the team to create and build a direct relationship with the other party. A direct dialogue and being involved at the “non-legal” phase of discussions not only creates a self-rewarding environment but allows the lawyer to develop an understanding of the bigger picture and the underlying commercial and business reality. 

Such awareness allows advice to be tailored and positions negotiated more effectively, which may not have been possible through a strict lawyer-to-lawyer dialogue. The role of my department has therefore evolved into an integrated support function where we are involved in the conceptual phases of projects and/or at the very first stages of a relationship even where a lawyer would not usually be present. Our contribution has proved to be indispensable across a spectrum of negotiations, most recently with landlords in various jurisdictions, key sponsorship deals and commercial transactions. 

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? 

Sustainability is highly relevant in the fashion sector and is something that I feel very strongly about. It should not be seen as simply ticking boxes to comply with codes of conduct but should be embedded as a key principle of any business’ mission statement. 

We must accept and acknowledge that sustainability is protecting our planet and future generations. Sustainability is something that we see on a day-to-day basis in the legal department, the company has a dedicated sustainability department who works in close collaboration with the compliance officer in my team, to obtain requisite certifications but, moreover, to ensure that sustainable practices are being adopted throughout our supply chain at a group level but also at a personal level within our company. Only if we really believe in the practices we adopt, can we successfully communicate this.