Team size: Six

What are the most significant cases, projects and/or transactions that you and/or your legal team have recently been involved in?

The legal team played a pivotal role in the Company’s strategic initiative to expand its business in the CEE region. Our team’s expertise was essential in establishing new legal entities in the targeted territories, ensuring compliance with local regulations. They actively contributed to the design and implementation of a lean corporate structure aligned with the company’s goals, as well as a robust governance and compliance programme.

Additionally, the legal team drafted vital documentation and contracts as a strong foundation for successful business operations. Their active involvement in negotiations with business partners further strengthened the company’s position, enabling smooth and efficient project implementation while mitigating potential risks. What stood out during the project was the team’s remarkable resilience – consistently going the extra mile, delivering high-quality work within tight deadlines, supporting each other, and demonstrating a collaborative spirit that fostered a positive team environment, allowing us to act as ONE.

How do you approach managing legal aspects during periods of instability or crisis to ensure the organisation’s resilience?  

The pandemic is a prime example of a period of instability, unpredictability, and high pressure on a large scale worldwide. It has significantly impacted our operations and lives. Throughout this challenging period, the legal team has played a crucial role in swiftly adapting to the new paradigm, recognising our essential function in maintaining public health. The team has been instrumental in navigating the complexities of evolving regulations, ensuring compliance while supporting the organisation’s operational needs. They have focused on managing risks associated with social distancing, ensuring that the shift does not lead to social isolation. By addressing these legal challenges proactively, we have supported our organisation in navigating this period of instability effectively.

What factors influence your team’s decision to use external legal services versus handling matters in-house, and what criteria are used to evaluate their performance?    

The strategy for collaborating with law firms considers factors such as understanding the business and the industry in which the company operates, availability and adaptability, trust, and a shared cost-efficiency approach. The partnership with external lawyers addresses the company’s need for legal assistance in areas that require specific niche expertise, such as competition/antitrust and data privacy/cybersecurity.

We value their specialised knowledge and skills in their respective areas of expertise, which allows for high-quality work, effective problem-solving, and the ability to work across different areas and jurisdictions, providing comprehensive solutions. An openness to understanding the specific needs of the company in terms of OPEX and costs allows them to tailor the structure of financial offers accordingly, ensuring that the Company receives relevant and effective legal support at a fair cost.

How does your team contribute to the overall business strategy of the company? Can you share an example of a recent legal-led initiative that had a significant impact?   

Legal contribution touches a wide range of areas, such as real estate, mergers and acquisitions, competition/antitrust law, data privacy, ESG, ethics and compliance, public procurement, and labour and employment. The projects include the digitalisation of contract management and the implementation of AI solutions to streamline operations and processes within the legal department; strengthening the compliance programme in alignment with central directives while remaining consistent with local legislation; engaging in strategic real estate projects; and specific activities related to public procurement procedures that require niche expertise. The team is also involved in commercial and marketing projects, such as expanding the company’s product and service portfolios and consumer-focused campaigns, as well as ESG initiatives.

In the recent strategic business project regarding the Company’s expansion in the CEE territories, the legal team played a leading, pivotal role. Our team’s expertise was essential in establishing new legal entities in the targeted territories, ensuring compliance with local regulations while driving the business agenda.

I do my best to be the person in the room reminding others that, beyond the expertise gained through continuous learning and practical experience, we should add one precious ingredient to our interactions: empathy. People have feelings, which inevitably influence the way work is carried out.