Team size: 9

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?

When a crisis arises, one must act quickly and conduct an immediate assessment of the situation, determine its magnitude and possible consequences. At this point, clear and effective communication is of vital importance, offering a clear action plan. From the perspective of legal advice in project financing, it is essential to have constant regulatory updates, be very careful when conducting due diligence on project information, ensure a clear allocation of risk, and provide solid collateral guarantees, in addition to having alternative means for dispute resolution, while evaluating jurisdictional risks.· What are the major cases or transactions you have been involved in recently?

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?

Since 2021, Banco Sabadell has operated an Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS) designed to identify, assess, and manage environmental and social (E&S) risks across its investment portfolio. This system is fully aligned with applicable national legislation and international standards, including the IFC Performance Standards on Environmental and Social Sustainability.

As part of its implementation, the ESMS incorporates an Environmental and Social Due Diligence process, which includes on-site assessments to verify project-level E&S performance and ensure compliance with relevant laws, regulations, and permitting requirements.

As legal advisors, we must ensure embedding this framework into our decision-making processes, Banco Sabadell has mitigated the risk of financing projects with adverse environmental or social impacts, while also safeguarding the institution’s reputation and reinforcing its commitment to responsible banking.

How do you prioritise diversity and inclusion within your legal department, and what initiatives have you implemented to foster a more inclusive and equitable work environment?

Organisational culture has evolved in our legal department, prioritising the creation of teams where a sense of belonging and inclusive leadership is built based on merit and talent, without any type of bias, with salary transparency, seeking a balance between employees’ personal and professional lives by employing hybrid work models, granting equitable paternity and maternity leave to avoid reinforcing stereotypes, and providing benefits that allow employees to manage the care of their school-aged children.