Senior corporate counsel | Sizzling Platter de México

Claudia Civelle de los Santos Franco
Senior corporate counsel | Sizzling Platter de México
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, in which I have been involved as an in-house
lawyer, I have found that the main objective is damage control, prioritising business
continuity as well as the safety of the company’s employees.
Therefore, it has been vitally important to act according to the principle of reality in
order to adapt the applicable legal strategy, since as in-house lawyer, one must not lose
sight of the dynamic nature of the company’s operations and must seek to harmonise
regulatory compliance in a way that maximises benefits for business continuity, aiming
to provide fast yet well-grounded solutions.
In this regard, it is essential to collaborate in a multidisciplinary manner with various
departments on a regular basis, and especially during times of crisis, to find tailor-made
solutions that meet the organisation’s specific needs.
Additionally, in order to develop a legal strategy that is aligned with the business
strategy, it is important to understand the intended future scope from the outset. This
allows us to identify potential risks and determine how we can either prevent or mitigate
them, thereby enabling the company to take a solid path toward expansion and
increasing the likelihood of withstanding unstable times.
What are the major cases or transactions you have been involved in recently?
I have participated in due diligence processes, within which I have conducted case
analyses, presented and justified the requirements raised during the process, with the
aim of ensuring transparency in all operations.
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?
I believe it is possible to prioritise diversity and inclusion in the department by taking
into account the opinions and needs of the team as well as the area as a whole. For this,
it is important to maintain open communication among all members and to learn to
view diversity with respect and without prejudice. By fostering a diverse legal
department, we enrich the way we approach legal strategies for our internal clients,
since part of a lawyer´s role is to seek creative approaches that balance regulatory
compliance with the realisation of company projects.
In this sense, I have consistently promoted respect for conditions established by law as
protections for diverse situations, as well as empathy among colleagues. I emphasise
the importance of educating ourselves on the factors that make us diverse and adapting
the work environment to provide accessible conditions for all employees.