Team size: 28 people

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?

I see periods of instability or crises as great opportunities for evolution and internal growth, especially in an area that deals with problems every day. In a large company with mature work processes, the management of legal issues has to be organised, have control of data and numbers, have clear KPIs to be followed, and always be guided in achieving continuous improvement. The internal legal department, despite being a business support area, has to understand very well what activities are carried out by the company, its indicators, strengths and weaknesses, market details, and all this as a way to anticipate the risks that could happen, based on the business strategy designed by the company. Effective communication, on-site visits and close contact with business teams are also essential factors to bring technical/commercial knowledge to the legal team.

Of course, the legal strategy depends a lot on the business in which it is inserted, however, anticipating problems is essential aiming at the continuity and resilience of the organisation. The team has to focus on measures that reduce administrative and bureaucratic activities, allowing them to act on topics that can add even more value to the company. In this aspect and in my particular case, working with innovation tools has been a very positive differential for the entire team, as it has brought more fluidity in the legal analyses and allowed us to have a clearer mapping of where we are and where we should focus our efforts.

What are the major cases or transactions you have been involved in recently?

Working in a multinational company like Maersk allows you to interact with different areas, teams, subjects, and transactions locally or internationally. As a global logistics integrator, the group’s business includes several areas of activity, ranging from legal advice on a labor issue to participation in significant mergers and acquisitions. Many of the topics brought up here are confidential and some details cannot be shared, but in general, I could say that we manage a robust portfolio with a few thousand judicial/administrative lawsuits, active and passive, which are very relevant to the company, and which include a few billion reais.

The legal department has also supported the company in projects for the acquisition and construction of port terminals, which, due to the nature of the project, requires a lot of legal participation at this time, as it is in the phase of heavy civil works and the acquisition of equipment of very expressive value, necessary for the operation of the Terminal. The total amount invested in the acquisition and construction tends to be close to R$2.1 bn. In this same line of activity, the legal department supported the business in the renewal of operating authorisations for other terminals of the group, committing to make relevant investments for the coming years, in the order of R$300 m, as well as in financing operations that also totaled R$300 m.

As we are a multi-jurisdictional team, we operate in other countries in various investments made by the company, either through the acquisition of areas or companies, or through the construction and purchase of equipment for the organic growth of the business, such as warehouses and depots in Uruguay and depots in Argentina.

Other important investments (in the order of R$100 m) were also made by the company in Brazil in the ocean, logistics and services segment, with the start of docking its ships in Brazil, and with the implementation of new business units in Rio Grande, Salvador and Pecém, respectively.

What measures has your company taken to embed sustainability practises into its core business operations, and how does the role of the general counsel contribute to driving and ensuring sustainable practises within the company?

Maersk was one of the companies that joined the global sustainability pact, and that defined clear targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in its activities. The goal is to zero emissions by 2040 and the company already has the first e-methanol-powered ships in operation in the world. Not only that, but the company is also making investments in adapting its port terminals with a view to electrifying them and allowing them to supply electricity to the ships that are docked there, as well as building LEED-certified warehouses, which prove its commitment to the continuous reduction of pollutants. In Brazil, the company has also been contributing to the government, in the search for the construction of a National Plan for Energy Transition at Sea. In this line, the role of the general counsel is to support all these initiatives of the group, through general legal analysis, identifying opportunities aligned with the group’s strategy and in contact with the authorities.

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?

Maersk is a great supporter in promoting diversity and inclusion policies, especially in a historically male-dominated sector such as transport and logistics, with ambitious targets in its annual report. One of them was to reach 40% of women in management positions by 2025. To this end, it has implemented initiatives such as Gender Action Plans, which seek to create career opportunities for women at all levels of the organisation; exclusive programs for women aimed at accelerating the development of skills in the logistics segment; and inclusion at Sea, where she is focused on increasing the female presence in the maritime sector, promoting a safe and inclusive work environment on board ships. As leaders, we support this great initiative and in the Legal Department in my Arean, we not only achieved, but far exceeded the goal desired by the company, where we have 70% of leadership positions occupied by women, and in total, 80% of the entire local legal team is occupied by women.