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

Recently we have been working on closer integration within the BPCE Group, namely where legal teams are concerned. This has been particularly fruitful as we are able to rely on different approaches and support concerning the implementation of legal changes that apply transversally to all business units within the group. Additionally, we also completed successful transactions on the sale of non-performing assets both in Portugal and in Spain. Most importantly, we also supported the bank activities in a proactive way, in order to offer solutions to clients facing difficulties due to the sharp rises in interest rates and inflationary trends.

Why are in-house lawyers well-placed to drive change within their organisations?

The role of the in-house lawyer allows for a great scope of action, which contributes to the improvement of the company’s culture when addressing legal risks.

In-house teams can be drivers of change, not only implementing roadmaps for specific aspects of regulation. They are able to understand the business fundamentals in order to anticipate and proactively show how regulatory trends impact the long, medium or short run strategies of the company.

In my opinion, if you deliver tangible solutions, you can easily implement changes, especially if they are efficient or cost sensitive. Finally, having a method and project-based approach in which the in-house team can lead and document their ideas is also a way of verbalising thought and action processes within an organisation, and may result in significant and purposeful changes.

How do you suggest in-house lawyers build strong relationships with business partners?

There are many ways in which in-house lawyers can build strong relationships with business partners, and these relate to the company’s values, governance and culture. My suggestion is to try to spend time with the business side of the company, not only on the traditional induction training, but to immerse deeper in the business activity. For example, it is beneficial to spend time with the business side of the company in order to understand how they work in their day-to-day activities.

Understanding the business’s purpose and how you can contribute in an impactful way is crucial. Understand the business and the deliverables expected and be sure that your priorities are constantly well sorted when interacting with the business side of the company.

Always keep in mind your purpose in the company. As legal counsel, you are a part of the show but rarely expected to be the leading actor. Achieving best supporting role is just as good or even better.