What are the most significant cases and transactions that your legal team has recently been involved in?

As a member of the legal team, we have responded to the demands that have occurred throughout 2021 and been involved in important operations for the company which have allowed it to consolidate its operations and activities. The most representative being the sale of Buenaventura’s stake in Minera Yanacocha to Newmont Corporation last February.

How do you feel the pandemic has changed the world of work for in-house counsel and the function of the general counsel?

The pandemic has challenged the legal teams in both the short-term and long-term. The concept of resilience has been learned and assimilated by in-house lawyers in every process of interaction with stakeholders. To illustrate that point, as head of the legal team, I have had to lead and adopt a shift to a new technological culture and style during our activities. As part of this process, some technology tools were adopted to take proactive steps towards security information and to increase the usage of the cloud. The pandemic has also become an opportunity for general counsel to challenge their leadership style.

What are some of the key developments – legal, geopolitical or otherwise – that have affected your business over the past year?

Besides the global crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and the tense international situation between Russia and Ukraine, Peru has been facing an unstable political, economic, and social situation. It has generated social discontent, a paralysed economy, and a significant reduction in foreign investments in key sectors such as mining, agriculture, construction, and retail.

Looking forward, what technological advancements do you feel will impact the role of in-house legal teams in the future the most?

The pandemic has dramatically accelerated the technological transition process that legal teams have been carrying out. The result has been efficiency, modernisation, standardisation, and productivity. For instance, data analytics facilitates the search for information, the automation of documents, and the diversity of online platforms generated have allowed users to gain faster access to legal information. The legal tech market is making headway; the tools and products offered to facilitate the in-house lawyer’s role have not only allowed time optimisation but a substantial increase in legal matters which have translated to the satisfaction of the corporation. However, legal teams must carefully analyse which legal tech tool or product fits their implementation and investment plan, hand in hand with the company’s vision.