Major legal advisers: Creel, White & Case, Natividad

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?

My innovation is to establish strategic litigation as a guiding principle. This requires an alignment of external firms, internal users, and the legal team.

Negotiations on fee structures with law firms should prioritise swift and favourable resolution of legal matters. To achieve this, we had to redefine what constitutes a favourable outcome, eliminating ego-driven motives and incentivising solutions. During this process, we engaged in negotiations and continued working with select legal firms that embraced our approach, while others were no longer retained.

Internal lawyers and internal clients must collaborate to enhance the understanding of our business and associated risks. To facilitate this, we established product responsibility committees and fostered extensive alignment with human resources and external law firms. Consequently, product-related issues were addressed without resorting to litigation, and risk premiums were reduced. We were also able to promptly challenge resolutions that posed financial risks to the organisation.

Finally, the litigation team embraced a team approach. We learned to proactively manage risks and align our priorities with those of the business.

Our efforts led to a significant reduction in legal contingencies, and we transformed the legal department into a valuable business partner by actively preventing risks and adding value to the organisation.

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

Tools that enable us to effectively monitor compliance with regulations across our organisation seems like a luxury. We often operate under the assumption that once we provide training and report on compliance, employees will internalise the information and act accordingly. However, the reality is that business needs and employee turnover can often undermine the validity of this assumption. To address this challenge, we could benefit from implementing user-friendly consultation tools to ensure constant availability and connectivity, allowing for quick and convenient access to guidance and support.

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?

Compass supports the UN Global Compact, endorsing its principles on human rights, labour, the environment, and anti-corruption. We also uphold the core conventions of the International Labor Organization (ILO).

Compass established a dedicated Human Rights Working Group. This cross-functional team, including representatives from human resources and general counsel, aims to raise awareness about human rights risks, including modern slavery, and provide relevant training within the organisation. Compass also partnered with Slave-Free Alliance, an anti-slavery social enterprise.

The general counsel plays a pivotal role in raising awareness, sponsoring initiatives, facilitating sustainability implementation, highlights compliance risks, and guides actions across key functions. I am proud to announce that we obtained the Socially Responsible Company seal for the organisation this year.

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

To harness the benefits of new technologies, it is crucial to first strive for understand them. By doing so, we can anticipate many of the legal implications before specific regulations are established. It is also advisable to seek guidance from and collaborate with trusted external advisors who specialise in the relevant field to develop effective legal safeguards.

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?

Diversity and inclusion are fundamental in the strategy of the legal department and the entire organisation. As a service company, people mean everything to us. Respect is one of our fundamental values and it is in the DNA of our organisation.

Unfortunately, in Mexico, discrimination is relatively common. We seek to provide a safe place for our employees and even for the employees of the companies to whom we provide services. We have an awareness plan and will soon implement safe spaces free from discrimination and violence in our business units.