Team size: 16

What are the key projects you have been involved in over the past twelve months?

The Vice Presidency provides legal support for all companies affiliated with the Organisation and supports them in business evaluation processes for both investment and divestment, as well as in their day-to-day operations.

Can you describe an instance where your legal advice directly influenced business strategy or commercial objectives?

The involvement of the Legal Department is required for new product launch projects, as well as for investment, divestment or investment liquidation processes. We have supported all projects carried out during the year.

What key trends should in-house counsel be monitoring over the coming months?

It is evident that the trend today — and in the coming years — is the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in legal work. We have been working on developing agents that assist lawyers in their tasks, allowing them to focus on more relevant matters while reducing the likelihood of errors. For example, we have agents that conduct a preliminary review of reports and documentation submitted to authorities, detecting errors from the business area that prepares them. After being reviewed by the agent, the documentation is then reviewed and approved by the lawyer. This makes our review process more agile and efficient.

How has the role of general counsel evolved, and what are the most important attributes for the modern in-house lawyer?

Leaders of legal departments must have strong managerial skills to ensure that their teams meet the standards required by the organisation. They must also understand that the legal department is a support area within the company. Their role facilitates business operations; therefore, they must understand the business and maintain close and ongoing relationships with other departments, always focused on achieving the best results for the Organisation. We play a key role in whether or not the objectives set by the Presidency are achieved.

How can in-house counsel use AI to improve efficiency while maintaining quality, governance and integrity within legal teams?

As I mentioned earlier, we do not use AI to eliminate the legal review process. We use AI to ensure agility in our work. Every matter is still reviewed by a lawyer, but we make the process simpler both for the business areas requiring our support and for our lawyers. On the other hand, we are strict regarding the use of tools: we may only use those officially made available by the Company in our work. Therefore, if we eventually require the use of new software, we do so in coordination with the IT department.

Organisations are facing increasing regulation across jurisdictions. How do you embed compliance across the business?

Our Organisation is characterised by operation across multiple jurisdictions. We work closely with external law firms to ensure compliance in the different countries where we operate. We also conduct audit processes in various areas, carried out by third parties, which allow us to identify compliance gaps and opportunities for improvement in our processes.

In which areas does compliance most commonly break down, and how do you address these risks?

One of the main challenges in compliance arises from operating across multiple jurisdictions, each with different regulatory requirements and evolving standards. Risks also commonly appear in areas such as regulatory reporting, data protection, and the implementation of new business initiatives or products.

To address these risks, we work closely with external law firms and specialised advisors in each country to ensure proper interpretation and application of local regulations.

How do you manage situations where legal advice and commercial objectives conflict?

Conflicts are common, particularly in contracting matters and in defining the risks associated with those processes. What usually happens is that certain risks may be assumed by the commercial area, provided that the decision is made by the process leader after a proper explanation and analysis of the risks involved. The Head of Contracting Area also understands that certain risks are unacceptable, and in those cases the discussion is escalated directly to the Vice Presidency and, when necessary, to the Presidency. Our Organisation is characterised by a conservative approach to risk management.

How can general counsel help drive responsible governance and ethical decision-making across an organisation?

Building and maintaining corporate culture is not solely the responsibility of the Legal Department; the Human Resources Vice Presidency also plays a fundamental role. The Organisation has defined values that all of us are expected to uphold, and these are reinforced annually through different initiatives, including certification-based training programs. These values help guide us in defining and taking positions from the legal perspective regarding risk management.

What major challenges or risks should in-house legal teams be preparing for over the next twelve months?

While AI has been a valuable tool, it cannot become a crutch for lawyers’ work. Lawyers must be capable of critically analysing situations in order to make the best decisions. If we fail to ensure that everyone understands that AI is only a tool and not the decision-maker, we will end up assuming unnecessary risks. This is especially important for younger lawyers, who tend to have greater familiarity with and inclination toward the use of AI.

Have you had any particularly unique or defining experiences during your legal career?

The Organisation has allowed me to work not only in the legal area, but also in other business activities that have enriched my financial, administrative, and managerial understanding of what a company requires. This knowledge has greatly contributed to my professional development as a lawyer. I have learned to see things not from a distance, but from a comprehensive and integrated perspective.

Beyond your legal role, is there a cause or initiative you are especially passionate about?

I would like to think that in the future I will be able to dedicate myself to social causes. Today, I contribute through my current role, but once I retire from my professional career, my goal is to devote myself exclusively to this work.