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

The aviation industry has been severely affected by the pandemic; however, Sky is an airline with a low-cost model that has demonstrated its efficiency by managing wisely its resources to grow in an orderly manner. Sky is growing in market shares and expanding its routes to destinations such as Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Mexico and, the latest milestone, the US. Sky became the first low-cost carrier flying directly from Lima to Miami. My legal team played a crucial role in structuring the aeronautical permits, creating the branches, and supporting all the areas working toward international expansion. We managed the workload of opening several routes simultaneously while attending our day-to-day activities for our internal clients, performing with high standards.

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

It has drastically changed. We became more aware of the financial strategy of the company. Lawyers are now expected to evaluate different angles of a problem and propose creative solutions to contribute to the decision-making process with the CEO and the board during the most challenging time for the companies.

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

The increase in travel requirements made our business more complex than ever. The legal restrictions, the fear of travelling because of the quarantine, and the lack of financial aid for airlines in Peru affected our operations. In this new reality, the most significant challenge was to change the passenger’s mindset on travelling.

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

Platforms for contract management and electronic signatures are essential for our role. Before the pandemic, companies were reluctant to invest in those platforms; however, in a world where remote work became the only way of work, it showed how important it is to have a reliable documentation system.