Legal counsel | Nestlé
Filipa Leitão
Legal counsel | Nestlé
Could you tell us a bit about your significant successes in your role?
In my professional career, successes are always related to moments or events in which the professional side allows me to learn, develop and challenge myself, technically as a professional lawyer and personally. As an In-house Lawyer, the fast-paced environment and closeness to the different business areas give me a sense of belonging. I am a business partner for other brands, contributing to key and challenging legal, regulatory, and financial moments. The search for answers and pragmatic problem-solving is complex, and responding to these needs is the greatest success. Knowing the different brands count on me as a fundamental team member to overcome challenges year after year is what rewards me professionally and is the most significant accomplishment.
In your opinion, what are the qualities and skills needed to form a strong legal team?
The most outstanding qualities to form a solid legal team are the ability to listen and understand without judgement and the sensitivity to recognise a business’s struggles. As for skills, the capacity for technical evolution and constant learning, pragmatic thinking and problem-solving.
What is the biggest risk to your industry, and how are you contributing to prepare your organisation for this?
The greatest risk is to always keep the need of constant evolution and transformation side by side with regulation and growing legislation.
What challenges have you overcome to get to the position you are in today?
I had to adapt to a challenging and fast-paced sector — food industry — in which I had never worked, with its own culture and intense way of working.