How do you approach managing legal aspects during periods of instability or crises, and how does your legal strategy align with the broader business strategy to ensure the organisation’s resilience?   

As a general counsel, we are protecting the best interests of the company while still enabling it to operate and adapt. It’s vital to build rapport and trust across the organisation to maintain open lines of communication with leadership and align the legal strategy closely with overall business goals to mobilise quickly when crises hit. It’s crucial to take a proactive and creative approach, staying on top of rapidly changing regulations and anticipating potential issues before they arise. That means being flexible and finding ways to say “yes, if” rather than just “no.” …The legal team should be considerate and operate as a business partner in any circumstances. 

What are the main cases or transactions you have been involved in recently? 

The life of a general counsel is never a dull moment. I’ve had my hands full with a couple of big real estate deals we’re wrapping up. On top of that, we’re in the middle of the implementation of a corporate restructuring strategy. It’s been quite the puzzle to put together, but we’re making good progress in setting up a more efficient way to manage the organisation aligned with the family-related business interests. And then there’s this new venture we’re looking at opening in a few new Co-Living locations. Lots of moving parts there, from strategic planning to adapting the model to the new local regulations. 

What strategies do you employ to ensure the successful digital transformation of a legal department while maintaining compliance with Mexico’s data protection laws? 

In my experience, the key to the digital transformation is to start by identifying manual, time-consuming processes that could benefit from automation or digital tools. Document management, digital signature platforms, and contract review/lifecycle management (CLMs) are often good places to start. Also involve IT teams early in the process to ensure cybersecurity and data protection align with Mexican regulations. 

People need to understand not just how to use new technologies, but also the “why” and the “impact” of the right allocation of our resources. This ensures we make the best use of these new digital tools to meet the financial goals of the organisation.  

How do you manage and motivate your legal team to ensure high performance and professional growth?   

I’m a true believer in leading by example/support and fostering a collaborative culture, being approachable, but pushing them out of their comfort zones, while still providing support and mentorship. I think people who perform best when they feel valued and see how their work connects to their efforts contribute to the company’s success. Regular feedback and clear performance expectations are essential to manage any high-performance team. Legal work can sometimes feel abstract, so making those connections explicit is important for motivation.