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 crises or instability, I focus on managing legal aspects with agility and collaboration, working closely with the executive team. I prioritise open communication with key stakeholders to align our legal strategies with business objectives, as well as communication within the legal department, so we are aligned internally and with the organisation. I also focus on identifying the legal risks, and develop contingency plans that can be swiftly implemented, and foster a culture of compliance, so our strategic decisions support the resilience of the organisation.  Ultimately, my goal is to develop a legal framework that at the same time protects the organisation, and it also empowers it to seize opportunities, even in uncertain times. Aligning our legal strategy with the business vision, helps to enhance our resilience and drive sustainable growth.

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

General Counsel can foster an ESG-supportive culture making a holistic approach to embed ESG values across all organisational levels. To achieve this, it is important to advocate for ESG at the highest levels. Likewise, it is necessary to create clear policies, and to educate employees in order for the GC to ensure that ESG principles are understood and prioritised. There also needs to be a proactive risk management and a transparent stakeholder communication, as they help to build trust and demonstrate commitment. Aligning ESG goals with business strategy integrates these principles into decision-making, while regular monitoring and reporting drive continuous improvement.

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

Technology is of a high importance in the management of the legal team and the legal processes. We use technology in different areas, enhancing efficiency, access to information, times of response. Some examples are the following: Meetings of the board of directors, taskforces and working groups being held electronically; Tools for remote working, providing access to the companies working network through secure systems; Time control and reporting tools developed internally; Document management tools, legal research tools, and document management solution in e-clouds.

Further developments are envisaged as the legal department is convinced of the improvements to its work technology can provide, in line a with the general IT vision of the Company. As part of these, the legal department is actually participating in an IT project related to the use of Artificial Intelligence tools, to determine the possibilities and means to include them as part of its processes and work means, in a safe environment and subject to the companies’ cybersecurity policies and measures.