Team size: 5

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?

During periods of instability or crisis, my objective is to deliver practical guidance to the organisation, always grounded in a risk-based approach. I focus on quickly identifying and assessing the most significant legal risks that could impact the business, with particular attention on areas such as contractual obligations, regulatory compliance, and potential reputational issues. By prioritising these risks, we can ensure that our resources and attention are directed where they will have the most meaningful impact.

I prioritise maintaining strong relationships with business leaders, especially during critical periods. By gaining insight into their immediate concerns and overarching business strategy, I tailor my legal guidance to ensure both compliance and alignment with the organisation’s objectives. My focus is on delivering clear, actionable recommendations that facilitate well-informed decision-making under pressure, empowering the leadership team to respond promptly and effectively.

My approach also involves fostering open communication and collaboration across teams. I regularly update stakeholders on emerging legal developments and risks and encourage a transparent dialogue so that everyone is informed and engaged in our response efforts.

Ultimately, my goal is to ensure that the legal strategy is both practical and proactive, supporting the organisation’s ability to adapt and progress smoothly. By focusing on real-world solutions and continuously reassessing risks as the situation evolves, I help position the organisation to navigate uncertainty effectively and emerge stronger from any crisis.

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

This year in Italy, my team and I have been focused on a wide range on legal matters. In particular, we have been focusing on the legal preparation for the upcoming Milano Cortina Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games 2026, where Visa is the Official Payment Partner of and has a longstanding partnership. This is a particularly complex and high-profile project from a legal perspective.

We have also been working on sponsorship agreements with the athletes who will be part of Team Visa, as well as the legal aspects of a number of promotional (e.g., pre-sales promotion for Paralympic Games 2026 reserved to Visa cardholders or tickets prize contests) and marketing activities designed to build momentum for the Games. These activities have required careful legal oversight to address issues related to sponsorship rights, intellectual property, and regulatory compliance.

In addition, this year we have also supported the Catholic Jubilee 2025 where Visa is the exclusive partner in the payment sector. For this, we developed a loyalty program in partnership, bringing together over 200 merchants to offer discounts and benefits to Visa cardholders in Rome. Furthermore, we have created a prepaid card exclusive for the Catholic Jubilee 2025. This project has required us to navigate a broad range of legal challenges, including drafting and negotiating agreements, ensuring compliance with consumer law, data protection and financial services regulations, and coordinating with multiple stakeholders.

Overall, these projects have required a strategic, risk-based legal approach and close collaboration with both internal teams and external partners to ensure Visa’s interests are protected and our initiatives are successfully delivered.

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?

I believe that artificial intelligence (AI) will have the most significant impact on the legal professions and in-house legal teams in the near future. AI-driven tools will rapidly be transforming the way we review and prepare contracts by streamlining processes, enabling legal functions to quickly identify specific clauses, track changes, and manage multiple comments with greater efficiency and accuracy. This not only saves time, but also reduces the potential for human error.

AI will also be extremely valuable for conducting legal research. Advanced AI platforms can help identify relevant case law, applicable regulations, and precedent, allowing legal professionals to provide quick and well-informed opinions to support the business. The ability to access vast amounts of legal information and analyze it rapidly will make in-house teams more agile and responsive to the needs of their organisations.

Embracing these emerging technologies will be essential for legal professionals to remain effective, efficient, and value-driven partners to the business. Ultimately, being proactive about technological change will not only enhance the quality and speed of legal services, but also strengthen the strategic role of the legal function within the organisation.