Marjorie Colas – GC Powerlist
GC Powerlist Logo
Spain 2025

Financials

Marjorie Colas

General counsel and compliance officer, Iberia | AccorInvest

Download

Spain 2025

legal500.com/gc-powerlist/

Recommended Individual

Marjorie Colas

General counsel and compliance officer, Iberia | AccorInvest

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?  

  

During periods of instability or crises, my approach to managing legal aspects involves a combination of a proactive mindset, agile response, and close alignment with the broader business strategy.

The first step is to establish clear protocols for communication with all stakeholders, decision-making, and risk assessment. Including the legal team in all strategic bodies of the company ensures that legal assessments are obtained and delivered appropriately. This helps manage expectations and ensures that everyone is on the same page.

To align with the business strategy, the legal team should maintain a direct relationship with the business on a daily basis to make an effective impact.

Legal strategy during such times should focus on compliance, risk mitigation, and safeguarding the organisation’s reputation.  

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

  

I am involved in a litigation case concerning construction defects in a building contract, with claims totaling around 7 million euros.

On the transactional side, I directly negotiated and assessed a first-class hotel asset deal that closed in June 2024 for 70 million euros.    

  

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

The integration of technology into legal processes has had a profound impact on efficiency and compliance within our company, not only for the legal team but also for the business.

We have implemented various legal tech solutions, such as contract management software, intake tools, and compliance monitoring systems. These technologies streamline workflows, reduce manual errors, enhance our ability to manage large volumes of data, and foster collaboration with the business.

For instance, contract management software allows us to automate the drafting, review, and approval of contracts, significantly reducing turnaround times.

The implementation of an intake tool has enabled us to measure the legal team’s activity and set clear KPIs.

Compliance monitoring systems (notably for GDPR, anti-bribery compliance, and whistleblowing obligations) help us stay ahead of regulatory changes and ensure that our practices remain in line with legal requirements.  

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?  

  

The main challenge for businesses in Spain is navigating complex and ever-multiplying regulations. Knowledge management, whether internally or through external legal providers using advanced technology, is the most efficient way to save time. With AI enhancing these tools, their performance continues to improve.

Data protection and privacy will remain significant challenges due to GDPR compliance requirements, with hefty fines for non-compliance. Spain’s regulatory body issues the highest number of fines in Europe, so this matter requires serious attention.

The upcoming Artificial Intelligence European Act and a new Spanish authority will introduce additional regulations that companies must monitor. The pending transposition of the CSRD European directive will likely impose new obligations beyond current requirements.

There is also a growing focus on sustainability and ESG principles, driven by both regulations and stakeholder expectations. Businesses must adapt to laws promoting renewable energy, waste management, and climate risk reporting while ensuring economic growth.

Changes in labour and employment law present further challenges, including new employee contract requirements, dismissal procedures, and workplace policies.

To prepare, we are closely monitoring legislative changes, updating policies, and investing in employee training and development programmes to ensure compliance.

Marjorie Colas - Iberia 2022

General counsel and compliance officer Iberia – vice president group legal transformation | AccorInvest Iberia

View Powerlist

Related Powerlists

AccorInvest Iberia

AccorInvest Iberia

View Powerlist

Marjorie Colas

General counsel and compliance officer Iberia – vice president group legal transformation

AccorInvest Iberia

View Powerlist

AccorInvest Iberia

AccorInvest Iberia

View Powerlist