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

The main transaction our team was involved in was the implementation of the partial and voluntary tender offer for the acquisition of a maximum of 6,280,279 shares with the unitary nominal value of EUR€1,05, representing 20 % of the share capital of the Offeror, between February and April 2023.

We are currently in the process of implementing the board resolution of last April 27th, wherein, within the scope of the business development plan of the subsidiary Celfocus of the Next-Gen business segment, a process will be initiated that will culminate in the acquisition of a minority percentage of the share capital of that company by a group of employees of Novabase group. These employees have operational leadership responsibilities, and the current operation aims to promote their commitment to the development and enhancement of Celfocus.

Aside from these significant operations in this last quarter, we have all the issues around recent anti-bribery and money laundering EU Directives and the enforcement of policies on anti-bribery and fraud in the group companies; we are being challenged with new ways of doing business by the company, constant mutation of regulatory frameworks that defy our creativity in the legal making of contracts for all of Novabase areas of business. We are constantly pressured to develop new legal solutions for the business’s evolving needs.

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?

Choosing external lawyers who align with your company’s values is crucial; this will mean that external counsel understands the industry, the company, its management and employees aligned with its values. External counsel aligned with our company’s values is more inclined to go above and beyond their specific mandates, often including me in newsletters and articles on new relevant laws and webinars applicable to my company’s business. When you ensure external counsel is aligned with your company’s values, you can maximise the strength of that external lawyer’s value proposition. Additionally, aligned external counsel will also take a holistic approach to offer their services, which allows them the freedom to fully embrace the relationship and become a powerful partner and source of information.

Based on all the above, aligning external counsel with our values is essential when choosing the firms, we work with.

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?

Modern in-house legal teams must possess many skills beyond traditional legal expertise. Business acumen is one of the critical skills needed, as legal teams must understand their company’s industry, operations, and goals to identify legal issues that could affect the business and provide practical solutions to mitigate legal risks. Effective communication skills are essential to articulate complex legal concepts to non-legal stakeholders such as executives, board members, and employees. Collaboration skills are necessary as legal teams work with other departments like human resources, finance, and marketing to ensure legal considerations are considered when making business decisions. Technology proficiency is crucial as legal operations require software tools for legal research, document management, contract review, and e-discovery. Project management skills are essential as legal teams typically handle multiple projects simultaneously, prioritising tasks, delegating responsibilities, and ensuring timely and cost-effective completion. Finally, adaptability and resilience are necessary for legal teams to cope with changes in the legal landscape, respond quickly to new legal challenges, and work effectively under pressure. Modern in-house legal teams must have diverse skills to support their organisation’s success.

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

Building strong relationships with business partners is an essential aspect of an in-house lawyer’s role, as it can help to ensure that legal risks are proactively identified and managed and that legal advice is effectively integrated into the business decision-making process.

To do so, in-house lawyers must establish regular communication channels with their business partners, whether through email, phone, or in-person meetings, while ensuring availability. In-house counsel also needs to take the time to understand the business’s goals, objectives, and operations to help to provide more effective legal advice and to anticipate legal risks that may arise.

In-house lawyers have to act as a partner, not just legal advisors. This means proactively identifying legal risks, finding solutions that work for the business, and being flexible. Focus on adding value: an in-house lawyer should look for opportunities to add value to the company, whether it is through training sessions, process improvements, or other initiatives that help to mitigate legal risks and improve business outcomes.

In-house needs to build trust with business partners by demonstrating expertise, providing clear and concise advice, and following through on commitments. This will help to establish a solid and collaborative relationship built on mutual respect and trust.

Building strong relationships with business partners requires a combination of legal expertise, business acumen, and interpersonal skills. By taking a proactive and collaborative approach, in-house lawyers can become trusted advisors to their business partners and help drive the organisation’s success.