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

The Grupo Casais is currently made up of a universe of more than 100 companies spread across 17 countries in various areas of activity, namely civil construction, real estate, industry and services. The fact that the group’s activity is very comprehensive requires the establishment of strong partnerships with other companies and stakeholders. Bearing in mind that the Grupo Casais is a pioneer in adapting the business to models of sustainability and environmental efficiency, I particularly highlight the recent entry into the share capital of the Austrian company CREE or the formation, in Portugal, of a partnership with the cement company Secil with a view to the design, production and sale of modular prefabrication systems. Or the Iberian partnership with the international hotel chain B&B for the promotion and construction of hotels with high environmental sustainability, with the first hybrid concrete and wood hotel having already been built in Portugal. And at the international level, several consortia and partnerships for the execution of important public infrastructures, mainly in Angola, Gibraltar or in the USA.

How important is choosing to work with external lawyers who align with your company’s values? Are you likely to reconsider what firms you work with based on this?

Grupo Casais has a culture of its own that derives from its 65-year history and longevity. We closely follow the values ​​of humanism, cooperation and integrity and are fully aligned with the ESG principles. The development of sustainable and long-lasting projects and the satisfaction of individual customers and the society in which we operate is fundamental. And, therefore, we always work in partnership with those who identify with our values ​​and principles. The partnerships we establish in the legal sector are no exception to this principle and, therefore, we carefully evaluate each law firm we work with, essentially seeking specialized legal advice that can help the company grow sustainably and achieve its objectives, aligned with with our ethical and social responsibility.

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

In-house lawyers are now a fundamental part of companies’ businesses. By being integrated within the organisation chart of the company itself, they are active agents of the business and of organizational change. The corporate lawyer nowadays does not correspond to the stereotype of the litigation lawyer or who is limited to providing support in labour matters to the human resources department. Its role is fundamental in risk assessment, prevention and mediation of potential conflicts, but also in the entire Governance structure of organizations. This is why more and more in-house lawyers are moving away from being generalists and moving, within the companies themselves, towards specialization in areas as disparate as financial, technological, Governance and Compliance law.

As we live in a fast-paced world today, what skills will a corporate legal team need to succeed in the modern in-house industry?

In-house lawyers must have absolute mastery of the core areas of the business or industry where they work but must also have a deep understanding of the business itself, in its operational, financial and commercial dimensions.

The accelerated pace of work that has been introduced in recent years, through technological means, requires in-house lawyers to have a great ability to manage working time, prioritise and work in a network and in a team. Having to work side by side with their business partners, they must understand technical language, assimilate the risk and bridge the gap between the legal world and the business world.

Currently, no corporate lawyer can be efficient in their work if they are not equipped with the best software tools, databases and legal management platforms that ensure an effective workflow of their tasks. Added to this is the fact that artificial intelligence systems are evolving at an unthinkable pace until today, which will require from in-house lawyers a strong ability to adapt to new AI tools, as more and more activity of lawyer will pass, not by assimilating knowledge in the traditional sense, but rather by interpreting questions and answers and efficiently managing the various sources of knowledge that you will have in the palm of your hand.