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

I have had the privilege of contributing to significant successes and providing support, namely by assisting the tech software contract management team and guiding all group companies on their path to privacy compliance. Doing such has been both a challenge and an absolute pleasure.

I successfully helped build a team, fully based in Portugal, that reviews all software agreements for Farfetch and all group companies across the world, maintaining a cohesive legal review standard and a robust contract management process.

I have been ensuring our organisation’s compliance with global data protection regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and other worldwide relevant laws, such as the Brazilian Lei Geral de Proteção de Dados Pessoais (LGPD), among others.

I have also been actively involved in addressing emerging privacy challenges and providing strategic advice to navigate the evolving regulatory landscape. The privacy support for the launches of such revolutionary projects as the Farfetch Login, the Connected Retail experience, the Beauty business on the marketplace and the successful integration of four new acquired companies to the privacy standards of the Farfetch Group are key successes derived from the program.

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

Legal teams must be cohesive and focus on business goals, help the internal areas to achieve their performance indicators, and be legally compliant. They should ensure the lawfulness of the company’s decisions by facilitating the best solutions for the accomplishment of the end-goal, be active participants, and act as trusted business advisors.

Diversity and inclusion are essential for forming a strong legal team. Embracing diversity brings a range of perspectives, experiences, and ideas to the table. This can lead to more comprehensive legal analyses, creative problem-solving, and better decision-making.

A strong legal team also requires creativity. Creativity allows the team to think outside the box, find innovative legal solutions, and adapt to the ever-changing legal landscape. It enables the exploration of new approaches and strategies to tackle complex legal challenges.

By combining these qualities, legal teams will not only excel in providing reliable legal advice, but also thrive in navigating complex legal issues, identifying opportunities, and supporting the organisation to grow and achieve their goals.

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

In an industry that heavily relies on customer data, ensuring the privacy and protection of personal information is paramount. We constantly strive to uphold the standards and confidence that data subjects have entrusted us with. Having a dedicated team focused on privacy and data protections matters allows organisations to have a deep understanding of their business, projects, structure, and systems from a privacy perspective, and consequently, increases its possibility to successfully avoid or mitigate a personal data breach.

A significant risk organisations face today is data breaches, particularly for those operating exclusively online. Recognising this risk is crucial to staying proactive and ahead of potential incidents. By developing incident response plans, conducting tabletop exercises, and collaborating with cross-functional teams, we strengthened our ability to effectively respond to data breaches and minimise potential legal and reputational risks.

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

Overcoming challenges has been an integral part of my journey to the position I hold today. Both personally and professionally, I have embraced growth and development as key drivers of my success. A significant challenge I faced was earning the trust and respect of business teams, transitioning from being perceived as a legal advisor to becoming a trusted partner. By demonstrating my expertise, fostering open communication, and aligning legal strategies with business objectives, I successfully established myself as an integral part of the decision-making process.

Additionally, staying abreast of global law and regulatory updates, particularly in the dynamic field of privacy, presented its own set of challenges, as the evolving privacy landscape demanded continuous learning and adaptability. It is crucial to be ahead of changes in privacy regulations worldwide to better guide our organisation on its path to privacy compliance.