Team size:18   

How do you approach managing legal aspects during periods of instability or crises, and how does your legal strategy align with the broader business strategy to ensure the organisation’s resilience?

My approach to managing legal aspects during periods of instability or crises is based on our company’s annual strategy and plans. This strategy clearly outlines the top priorities for the business and for the various teams within the company, helping us stay focused and aligned with our overall goals. Our commitment to these priorities is absolute. 

The annual strategy serves as our roadmap, guiding us through various circumstances by focusing on what is truly important and helping us direct our energy and decisions towards the priorities with the greatest impact on the business. By strictly adhering to this roadmap, we can allocate our resources efficiently and effectively, ensuring we stay on track even when faced with challenges. This approach not only strengthens our legal strategy but also aligns it with the company’s strategy, enhancing the organisation’s resilience. 

During periods of instability or crises, I emphasise proactive risk management and continuous communication. By identifying potential legal risks as early as possible and developing contingency plans, it is more feasible to mitigate adverse impacts and ensure our legal responses are more effective. Maintaining a good level of constant communication with our key stakeholders, the Directors’ Committee, and department heads ensures that everyone is aligned and informed to make the best decisions in times of crisis and instability. 

In addition to these strategies, I also integrate Danone’s core principles into my approach within any kind of circumstances that may take place. Among others, I would like to highlight the following:  

Putting Danone first is key to us, which means to always prioritise the company’s interests in all decisions; Keep the consumer at the centre ensuring that our legal strategies are always aligned with consumer needs and expectations; and Pushing boundaries to adapt more swiftly to changes, develop creative solutions to complex legal challenges.  And finally: keep it simple. Simplify complex projects and decisions in order to optimise efficiency, ensuring that our actions are clear, direct, and aligned with our roadmap.  

In summary, my approach during periods of instability or crises is characterised by a strong adherence to our annual strategic priorities, proactive risk management, continuous communication, and the integration of Danone’s core principles. This comprehensive and disciplined methodology ensures that our legal strategy is aligned with the broader business strategy and enhances the organisation’s resilience. 

What are the main cases or transactions that you have been involved in recently? ��� 

Among many others, I would like to mention two of the main projects I’ve had the opportunity to lead.  

Firstly, a reindustrialisation project. This included the process of organising our resources to re-establish industries in response to deindustrialisation. It involves revitalising and modernising aging industries and encouraging the growth of new ones. 

The reindustrialisation project at Danone has been a key initiative to revitalise the company’s assets, improve operational efficiency, and promote sustainability. This project has involved the transformation of several production plants, ensuring that operations are more efficient and sustainable. 

One of the main achievements of the project has been the creation of new job opportunities, supporting local communities and contributing to economic growth. Additionally, the project has enabled the implementation of more sustainable practices reducing the carbon footprint and promoting the use of cleaner energy sources. 

On a social level, the project has had a significant positive impact. By creating jobs and supporting local economies, the company has demonstrated its commitment to social responsibility and sustainable development. The reindustrialisation has also facilitated collaboration between different departments and teams, fostering a more integrated and cohesive approach to achieving the company’s goals. 

Secondly, I would like to highlight the Reimbursement of eHF – leveraging the allergy segment in Portugal project. This initiative aimed to extend the reimbursement of products meant for allergy to 100% of children with CMPA (Cow’s Milk Protein Allergy). What made this project unique was the combination of social, medical, and economic aspects, while upholding the company’s values and beliefs. We stood side by side with the patients and ensured a sustainable growth of 10% in the allergy segment for the Danone’s Portuguese business. 

Initiated in 2010 and successfully completed in 2020, this project not only improved access to essential treatments for children with CMPA but also reinforced the company’s commitment to social responsibility and sustainable development. Collaboration between different teams and departments was crucial to achieving these goals, once again demonstrating the company’s ability to integrate its values into every aspect of its operations. 

The legal team played a pivotal role in the success of this project. By leveraging their market knowledge and legal expertise, we were able to navigate complex regulatory landscapes and secure the necessary approvals for the reimbursement extension. Their proactive approach in identifying business priorities and anticipating market demands ensured that the project remained aligned with the company’s strategic objectives.  

How can general counsel foster a corporate culture that supports ESG principles and compliance across all levels of the organisation?   

To foster a corporate culture that supports ESG principles and compliance across all levels of the organisation, a general counsel should adopt a comprehensive and collaborative approach. First, it is essential that the company’s leadership, including the general counsel, demonstrates a clear and visible commitment to ESG principles. This can be achieved by integrating these principles into the company’s mission and vision, as well as its internal policies and procedures. 

Additionally, the general counsel should work closely with other departments, such as human resources, finance, and operations, to ensure that ESG principles are incorporated into all areas of the company. This includes implementing training and development programs that educate employees on the importance of ESG principles and how they can apply them in their daily work. 

Communication also plays a crucial role. The general counsel should establish open and transparent communication channels that allow employees to express their concerns and suggestions related to ESG. This not only fosters a culture of compliance but also empowers employees to become advocates for ESG principles within the organisation. 

Finally, it is important to establish clear metrics and monitoring mechanisms to evaluate the company’s progress in implementing ESG principles. This can include internal and external audits, as well as the publication of sustainability reports that highlight achievements and areas for improvement. 

 How have you integrated technology into your legal processes, and what impact has this had on efficiency and compliance?   

At our legal department, we have integrated advanced legal tech solutions to streamline our processes and enhance the accuracy of our work. By leveraging these technologies, we have significantly improved our efficiency and effectiveness in managing intellectual property, compliance, and regulatory challenges.  

This integration has allowed us to better manage our resources, reduce manual tasks, and focus on more strategic activities that add value to the company. For instance, we recently implemented the Dilitrust platform, which has revolutionised our document management and corporate governance processes. This platform enables us to centralise and monitor legal information efficiently, ensuring compliance and facilitating corporate reporting sessions. As a result, we have not only ensured compliance with regulatory requirements but also positioned ourselves as proactive and strategic partners within the business. 

 What role does the legal department play in promoting and ensuring corporate social responsibility in your organisation?   

The legal department plays a crucial role in promoting and ensuring corporate social responsibility within our organisation. By aligning our actions with the company’s broader vision and values, we actively advocate for adherence to the highest social, environmental, and corporate governance standards. This involves working closely with other departments to ensure that our decisions positively impact the growth and innovation of all Danone Iberia businesses.  

For example, we engage in cross-functional projects that seek innovative and sustainable solutions, aligned with market needs and consumer expectations. Additionally, we promote diversity and gender equality, ensuring that our actions benefit society, people, consumers, and employees. Our comprehensive and proactive approach to legal management allows us to contribute significantly to the success and sustainability of the business, positioning us as a leader in the industry 

 What do you see as the major legal challenges for businesses in Spain over the next five years, and how are you preparing to address them?

Over the next five years, businesses in Spain are likely to face several major legal challenges. One of the most significant challenges will be navigating the evolving regulatory landscape and managing its increasing complexity. This includes areas such as food law, sustainability, compliance policies, data protection, and advertising self-regulation. The legal team at Danone Iberia is proactively preparing to address these challenges by staying ahead of regulatory changes and ensuring that our practices align with the latest legal requirements. We are also focusing on managing intellectual property, protecting our brand, and combating unfair competition.  

Laws and regulations are constantly changing, and keeping up with these modifications requires continuous and significant effort. The integration of new technologies into legal processes also represents a major challenge. Although these technologies can improve efficiency and accuracy, their implementation requires considerable investment in time and resources, as well as overcoming potential resistance to change within the team. 

Additionally, globalisation and the complexity of supply chains present further challenges in terms of compliance and regulation. To address these issues, we are enhancing our legal strategies and fostering a proactive approach within our team to anticipate and respond to the needs of a constantly evolving market. 

Another challenge is the constant pressure to be more efficient while maintaining high standards of quality. Legal departments must find innovative ways to optimise their operations and manage resources more efficiently without compromising service quality. Additionally, it is essential to ensure that all possible actions are taken to guarantee sustainable business growth.  

Ultimately, to overcome these challenges, a general counsel and their team members must embody the premise: ’Push the limit of what is possible’. This means always going one step further, opening and leading the necessary conversations and discussions to ensure the creation of opportunities and business growth.