Team size: 31

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?

As one of the officers of the company, I make sure to actively participate in discussions, providing legal advice, but also being a full participant of the decision-making process of all relevant business decisions. I make sure that my team members are also attentive to business aspects and are always able to provide solutions that are equally solid both from a legal and practical perspective.

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

In 2024, I’ve led the efforts, from a legal perspective, on the two most relevant transactions the company has been involved in the last decades. We signed and closed a transaction to acquire a unit that expanded the company’s production capacity in 15% (a BRL 600m deal). The company also signed documents to sell 70% of its biotech division to a French multinational (the enterprise value of the business unit involved was estimated in BRL 950m for the transaction), and the legal team is supporting the efforts to carve out the unit and complete the deal.

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?

Zilor has implemented a robust ESG program that has as main sponsors me (as the company’s general counsel), the CFO and the CHRO. As legal and compliance department we focus and drive all Governance aspects of the program, interacting with the other departments to make sure the Company constantly evolves on that specific aspect.

What emerging technologies do you see as having the most significant impact on the legal profession in the near future, and how do you stay updated on these developments?

Artificial intelligence has been changing the legal profession and will promote more efficiency, speed, and insight for inhouse lawyers and outside counsel. At Zilor’s legal department, we incentivise the team to take advantage of such benefits, but we are also attentive and working with IT to prevent risks associated with its use, specially to what relates with possible exposure in disclosing confidential information.