Could you tell us a bit about your significant successes in your role?

I work in the in-house legal team advising the company’s investments and activities in Portugal. Therefore, supporting the company’s development of energy projects has been a big part of that role. While I cannot publicly disclose the specific details of said projects and my legal advice to them, I believe that a significant success is being able to, thoughtfully and transparently, explain the legal and regulatory risks and, in such regard, participate in the relevant decision-making process.

In your opinion, what are the qualities and skills needed to form a strong legal team?

There are several qualities and skills needed to form a solid legal team. For that purpose, I want to highlight that communication, as an effective one, is vital to the success of any group, particularly in a legal team, as well as to conveying complex legal and regulatory concepts to the internal team. Moreover, trust is also crucial to take pressure off the different hierarchies of the team and allow for a better decision-making process. Furthermore, expertise is also a relevant skill and one of the essential qualities to have in a legal – not just expertise in a given field, but most importantly, being able to have broad legal expertise that allows one to assess risks even in areas which are not mainly one’s area of work. Finally, I would also highlight the attention to detail, as minor errors may have considerable consequences in the legal space.

What is the biggest risk to your industry, and how are you contributing to prepare your organisation for this?

The most significant risk to our industry is the ever-changing regulatory environment. With new laws and regulations being introduced regularly, compliance can be a considerable challenge, and non-compliance can lead to reputational damage, financial loss, and legal consequences. Within my organisation, I recognise the importance of staying up-to-date with these regulatory changes and ensuring compliance through their ongoing monitoring and assessment of potential legal and regulatory risks. Of course, it also helps to be in a legal team with different-minded professionals, wherein discussing these risks provides more insightful solutions.

What challenges have you overcome to get to the position you are in today?

Firstly, self-doubt and fear of failure. In an area such as the legal one, where we are often faced with setbacks and obstacles, one needs to have an apparent belief in itself and its abilities by persevering and pushing through these doubts. Additionally, managing work-life balance was appallingly significant, as balancing work and personal responsibilities can be difficult. Lastly, I would also like to add the adaptations to a new language (in my case, Spanish). While it was not consistently demanded that I learn and have detailed legal discussions in this language, my position was significantly strengthened by learning it from an oral and written point of view, as I could expose my knowledge more comprehensively.