Team size:  circa 150 lawyers

 What significant projects or deals has the legal team worked on in the past year?  Can you provide examples of successful outcomes or major accomplishments?  

We have had an incredibly demanding and challenging year at Diageo, one where the legal function across the group really performed above and beyond, delivering positive outcomes in “bet the farm” and strategically important transactions/matters.  For example: (i)we managed the high stakes public dispute with Sean Combs regarding Ciroc and DeLeon, including his incendiary allegations of racism, retaliation and improper business practices at Diageo.  We fought back publicly and with determination and achieved resolution of the matter — preserving (and probably enhancing) Diageo’s reputation for DEI in the process, as well as achieving a great business outcome.  I led the matter as General Counsel and worked closely with Lisa Hageman, our North American General Counsel.  It required us to work across all elements of challenge to us (such as legal, corporate relations, communications, government affairs, finance, commercial, sales, marketing, and more) and a range of stakeholders; (ii) we managed a portfolio of 15+ acquisition ordisposals throughout the year, delivering significant value for Diageo and our portfolio management strategy.  Announced transactions will have included the sale of Guinness Nigeria, the sale of Windsor brands (Korea), the sale of Safari, the disposition of the brewing assets of Guinness Cameroon, the entry into long-term Guinness brewing arrangements with ABI in China, the acquisition of US whiskey, Balcones and Don Papa, a leading rum brand; (iii) we have also led the company through a range of challenging reputational issues in light of the current social, economic and political climate.  We are proud that we have been able to continue to support and evidence DEI through our brands, including Bailey’s sponsorship or Eurovision, our global “Walkers” campaign for Johnnie Walker and support for the LGBQTI+ communities as part of our Smirnoff work   

Can you sum up the team culture/ethos in one sentence? Giving some information afterwards about how this is developed.  

The purpose of the Global Legal function in Diageo is to “clear the path” for the profitable and sustainable growth of Diageo, working shoulder to shoulder with our colleagues to deliver it. 

We have developed our LEAP (Lead, Enable, Accelerate and Protect) platform to bring our objective to “clear the path” to life. We have developed a LEAP Leadership Academy (with nearly 30 graduates) that develop the 360 degree skills needed to be a proactive, forward-facing, insight led professional and lawyer in Diageo.  We have also included the key facets of this in our professional development and assessment processes.  We use a common language-set to bring this to life and reinforce in our communications, background, email sign-offs and ways of working. This has been recognised by the FT in their Innovative Lawyer series for Europe. It has proven to be a unifying and inspirational articulation of purpose for our teams globally. 

Apart from legal matters, has the team worked on other company initiatives? 

We provide global leadership on Diageo’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) agenda, working with our digital and technology colleagues.  We were responsible for setting up Diageo’s AI Board, which is the main governance and operational body related to the use and implementation of our global AI ambitions. 

We also provide leadership through our acting as co-chairs for the Diageo Global Reputational Risk Committee, the Diageo Global Risk and Controls Steering Committee, our global Tequila strategy as part of our Agave Executive Working Group and on our global sustainability agenda (Spirit of Progress 2030) as Executive leaders and members of the Global working group.