Team size: 70+

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?

At Lonza, the general counsel succeeds through the success of the legal department. During the pandemic, Lonza and the Lonza legal team were proud to play a relevant role in the fight against COVID-19 when Lonza became the manufacturer of the Moderna vaccine.

The Lonza legal team distinguishes itself by its experience, can-do mentality, efficiency, and the right culture and mindset. This has enabled the team to perform at the highest quality during the pandemic, even during the most hectic phases. The legal team prided itself on always being one step ahead of the virus and anticipating the next escalation of the then crisis. This has helped Lonza navigate the stormy waters of the COVID-19 phase and contribute to enabling a healthier world.

What measures has your company taken to embed sustainability practices into its core business operations, and how does the role of the general counsel contribute to driving and ensuring sustainable practices within the company? 

At Lonza, sustainability and ESG are integral parts of the Legal, Risk & Responsibility (LRR) department, which is headed by the group general counsel and company secretary. This organisational structure ensures that there are no silos between the ESG team and the Legal team, and that sustainability is being worked on under one unified approach.

Lonza has taken further steps to promote ESG and sustainability, we have defined a number of ESG targets that, together, account for 25% of the bonus for all eligible employees. This ensures that ESG is relevant to all Lonza’s employees.

Furthermore, Lonza has defined seven UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that it deems particularly relevant to its business model. Each member of the Lonza Group Executive Committee (EC) sponsors one of the UN SDG workstreams. This ensures a tone from the top and a commitment to implementation of Lonza’s ESG roadmap.

Lastly, the ultimate governance and strategy-setting for sustainability and ESG at Lonza lies with the full Board of Directors, and specifically with the chairman of the Board. The Board sets the targets for sustainability and mandates the EC with implementation. 

This year, Swiss legal rules on non-financial reporting, conflict minerals, and child labour due diligence apply for the first time to reporting by Swiss listed companies. The implementation of such reporting, along with the underlying strategy and processes, has been overseen by the group’s general counsel and their LRR department.

Can you discuss a particularly challenging dispute or M&A scenario you encountered and the innovative strategies you implemented to address it?

Lonza has over 125 years of industrial history and an environmental legacy from its operations in the mountain region of the Upper Valais, Switzerland. Soil contamination in the region required Lonza to make an active strategic decision on how to approach the matter. Lonza accepted the challenge by negotiating with the competent authorities a diligent, sustainable, and partnership-driven agreement on a thorough, sustainable long-term remediation solution that provides a win-win situation for all involved parties – and without any need to go to court. Today, the remediation is seen as a role model or blueprint example of public-private partnership.