María Luisa Lozano Zafra – GC Powerlist
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Mexico Rising Stars 2025

Healthcare

María Luisa Lozano Zafra

Senior legal, ethics, compliance and quality director | Novo Nordisk

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Mexico Rising Stars 2025

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María Luisa Lozano Zafra

Senior legal, ethics, compliance and quality director | Novo Nordisk

Team size:  13 

In my role as Senior Legal, Ethics, Compliance and Quality Director     

for Novo Nordisk Mexico, I have been fortunate to lead initiatives that go beyond traditional legal work, focusing on transforming how the legal function supports the growth of the business. Please see more details below.

Managing Legal Aspects During Instability and Crises

During periods of instability, I focus on proactive risk assessment, compliance, and aligning our legal strategy with broader business goals. My priority is to ensure that our legal framework remains adaptable to evolving circumstances while continuing to meet the core needs of the business. Continuous communication with the leadership team is essential to position the legal function as a strategic partner in navigating challenges.

Over the last year, Novo Nordisk Mexico has undergone significant growth amid organisational changes. I led the implementation of various digital tools locally, enhancing our contracting process and risk management. This digitalisation has allowed us to become more agile business partners, providing insights that have improved collaboration and strengthened our focus on key areas. By aligning our legal strategy with business objectives, we integrate legal considerations into decision-making, fostering shared responsibility. This collaboration has minimised legal exposure while enabling us to capitalise on growth opportunities.

Major Cases and Transactions

Recently, I have led several important transactions that demonstrate my commitment to facilitating business growth while managing legal risks. One key transaction involved negotiating a strategic partnership with a local company to expand our market presence in Mexico. This required thorough risk assessments, careful legal drafting, compliance with local laws, and ensuring that all parties were adequately protected.

Additionally, my department has enhanced collaboration with the Regulatory team, resulting in improved outcomes. Over the past year, we have worked closely on various regulatory compliance matters, identifying new opportunities for effectively communicating our clinical data and protecting our intellectual property rights. These experiences have underscored the importance of integrating legal strategy with business objectives for organisational success.

Prioritising Diversity and Inclusion

Diversity and inclusion are fundamental to our legal department’s ethos. I believe that a diverse team enhances creativity and problem-solving capabilities. To foster an inclusive environment, we regularly assess individual profiles and discuss how we can improve as a team, ensuring that everyone feels valued and heard.

We also invite junior lawyers to rotate within our department as part of their graduate programme. This initiative facilitates professional growth and reinforces our commitment to equity. By emphasising diversity across gender, age, nationality, and backgrounds, we create a richer cross-section of perspectives, ultimately driving better decision-making and innovation in our legal functions.

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