Team size: 6

What are the key projects that you have been involved in over the past 12 months?

Over the past year, much of my focus has been on further developing the Legal and GRC function at BAMA. I joined as the company’s first in-house lawyer nearly three years ago and have since built a department of six professionals with expertise in competition law, labour law, M&A and corporate law, contracts, data protection, compliance, governance, and risk management.

Together with the team, I’ve worked on key projects such as M&A processes, improvement of governance framework, strengthening a group-wide ERM process, preparing for CSRD reporting, and enhancing compliance structures across the organisation. Another key focus area has been negotiating strategically important commercial contracts.

Throughout these projects, a consistent goal has been to embed legal, risk and compliance support into the business in a way that drives both value creation and risk mitigation.

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

The General Counsel / Legal & GRC team plays an important role in embedding ESG principles and fostering a strong compliance culture throughout the organisation. In my experience, the foundation lies in establishing a clear and practical governance framework that defines expectations, roles, and responsibilities. This includes policies and procedures that are not only legally sound, but also aligned with the organisation’s values and strategic objectives.

Equally important is tailored and ongoing training for all stakeholders in the organisation – from board members to operational staff. Legal and compliance advice/requirements must be communicated in a way that resonates with different audiences, using real-life examples and context-specific scenarios. It is about creating awareness, ownership, and a sense of accountability at all levels in the organisation.

By combining a solid framework with relevant training and active engagement, the legal function can help ensure that ESG and compliance are not seen as “add-ons,” but as integral parts of how the business operates and succeeds.

Based on your experiences in the past year, are there any trends in the legal or business world that you are keeping an eye on, of which you think other in-house lawyers should be mindful?

ESG regulations and supply chain accountability are evolving at a rapid pace. The shift from voluntary reporting to mandatory due diligence will change the way in-house legal teams operate. Another key trend is the increasing importance of data governance and risk-based approaches to compliance. The intersection of legal, risk and sustainability is where I believe in-house legal & GRC teams will play a crucial role going forward.

What is a cause, business or otherwise, that you are passionate about?

I am passionate about contributing to a sustainable value chain – one that delivers healthy products, contributes to fair working conditions and ethical business practices.