General counsel | Grupo Planeta
Luis Elias
General counsel | Grupo Planeta
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?
In times of instability or crisis, leadership becomes essential. The team needs a director who leads by example. It’s crucial not to blame others or focus on assigning responsibility. The key is to listen to the team, gather proper reports, analyse the information independently, and then sit down with the team to hear their proposals and options. You should share your own opinion without dismissing theirs, and then make clear, specific decisions, ensuring everyone knows exactly what they need to do.
At the same time, the leader must establish how they will be promptly updated on the subject at hand. If a mistake has been made, it’s critical to immediately acknowledge it and address it, bringing forward new solutions or decisions. It’s unfortunate when leaders fail to recognise their mistakes, causing more harm to people or the company. A true leader unites the team, earns their respect, provides clear guidance, and takes responsibility for their decisions, rectifying any errors along the way.
To achieve these results, a manager or director needs to listen to and respect each team member, even those with less technical experience. While managing a crisis, you must also think about the future. How will you lead the team once the crisis is over? How can you plan to avoid future crises? If, despite your efforts, a crisis arises again, step up and lead both the crisis and the team. Always seek honest feedback from your team members. I often say that I lead the team because someone must do it, but we are all part of the same team. I listen to everyone, consider their opinions, and take full responsibility for the decisions made.
What are the main cases or transactions that you have been involved in recently?
I have been involved in two significant acquisitions, one in the education sector and the other in the publishing business. At the same time, we are shaping our future by considering the upcoming changes brought about by the introduction of AI in our workplace. We need to establish regulations for the internal use of AI, ensuring we comply with all the legal requirements associated with it. Additionally, we must redesign our business strategies to adapt to evolving market conditions and meet the changing demands of consumers.
How can general counsel foster a corporate culture that supports ESG principles and compliance across all levels of the organisation?
Clear objectives, well communicated, audited, and enforced across the organization are essential. The support of the Board of Directors and the General Managers of the different businesses is critical. In addition, the ESG principles adopted by the company need to be feasible, with a well-defined timetable for implementing the various actions. All decisions, including those related to ESG, should be rational and reasonable, in line with the objectives that need to be achieved. ESG should also be part of the company culture, not merely a compliance issue.
How have you integrated technology into your legal processes, and what impact has this had on efficiency and compliance?
We have integrated a significant amount of technology into our day-to-day business operations, including not only AI but also IT programs for filing, signing, and reviewing documents. We’ve also created a repository to track all signed documents, with alerts for contracts that are expiring or require action. Essentially, the return on any investment in our field should be measured by efficiency.
What role does the legal department play in promoting and ensuring corporate social responsibility in your organisation?
We play a significant role, as no contract is signed without our prior review and approval. During these reviews, there are numerous opportunities to explain and reinforce the culture of corporate responsibility. In addition, we provide legal workshops and educational materials to the organisation.
General counsel and head of corporate services | Grupo Planeta
General counsel | Grupo Planeta
General counsel | Grupo Planeta
Grupo Planeta is Spain’s leading family-owned publishing and media group, also operating in Portugal, France and Latin America. With an impressive career, spanning private practice and in-house roles in various...
General counsel | Planeta Corporacion
Luis Elías started his career at law firm Garrigues in Madrid, first moving in-house in 1994 as head legal counsel for Europe at Sogo Corporation, subsequently progressing through positions at...