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 crisis and depending on the problem and the sector in which the company operates, legal management is essential. At these times, the Legal department will be responsible for working with the company to: (i) diagnose the facts; (ii) determine and, if possible, quantify the risks involved; (iii) outline strategies to mitigate risks and preserve the value of assets; (iv) safeguard the reputation of the institution, its executives, shareholders and employees; and, no less important; (v) the physical safety of people, if applicable to the event.

The Legal department must actively participate in crisis committees and support discussions with external stakeholders and must have access to all information related to the event, providing guidance on the best way to manage this information. This may require the preparation of mandatory reports on the retention and interpretation of knowledge of the facts. Lastly, it should be responsible for recruiting the resources and technical knowledge necessary for legal crisis management.

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

In the Legal department, I headed the Crisis Committee of UnitedHealth Brasil (the largest healthcare company in the world), in its largest deal outside the US, during the Covid-19 health crisis. It was a huge challenge for our company, Amil, then the largest healthcare company in Brazil, with a health plan, hospitals and clinics. I contributed to the sale of Amil by UniteHealth Group in Brazil. As head of Embraco’s Legal department, I participated in M&A with the sale of assets and operations in 6 countries, when Embraco was sold by Whirlpool SA. At the time, Embraco was the largest manufacturer of refrigeration compressors in the world. As head of Brasil PCH’s Legal department, I participated in the sale of PETROBRÀS’s shareholding to CEMIG.