Team size:     >11,000 employees globally

 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? 

Over 20 years acting as an in-house lawyer, I have had many opportunities to manage legal aspects during periods of instability or crises. These experiences have been remarkable and have significantly enhanced my business acumen, ensuring the organisation’s resilience and sustainability, even before ESG became a prominent agenda item.

During periods of instability or crises, my approach to managing legal aspects involves a comprehensive and proactive strategy. I start by pausing to observe and listen to business leaders to identify and assess potential legal risks that could arise during the crisis. Together, we figure out solutions.

The next step is to seek integration with the overall crisis management strategy. In my view, we need to anticipate long-term implications while addressing immediate legal threats.

I also design a communication plan for myself as an exercise to avoid being overly technical when communicating with the business or supporting a press release drafting. This involves reflecting and planning how I will communicate, which is essential for effective interaction with outside legal counsel.

While I have extensive experience in managing crises, I prefer a predictive approach to business. Conveying this message to business leaders can be challenging but is a necessary exercise. By integrating legal expertise into the business strategy, I proactively identify and address potential risks. This not only protects the organisation from costly legal disputes but also fosters a culture of trust with stakeholders, again connected to sustainability.

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

Recently, I have been deeply involved in the legal technology transformation at Getinge. This initiative has been pivotal in modernising our legal processes and enhancing efficiency across the organisation.

One of the major aspects of this transformation has been the implementation of advanced legal tech solutions, including contract management systems, legal intake, matter management, and AI-driven legal analytics. The overall ambition is streamline our operations, reduced manual workloads, and improved accuracy in legal documentation and compliance monitoring.

Additionally, I have led efforts to integrate these technologies with our broader business strategy, ensuring that our legal processes are not only efficient but also aligned with our organisational goals. This integration has fostered better collaboration between legal and other departments, enhancing overall business resilience and sustainability.

Through this transformation, we have been able to proactively address potential legal risks, improve stakeholder trust, and support the company’s growth and innovation in the medical technology sector.

 What emerging technologies do you see as having the most significant impact on the legal profession in the near future, and how do you stay updated on these developments?  

I believe AI argumentation versus AI automation will be crucial topics in the coming years, especially in training lawyers for the future.

To prepare young lawyers, particularly those from Gen Z, for the future of legal practice, it’s essential to integrate AI tools into their training. This will help develop their critical thinking skills, complex problem-solving abilities, and ensure they use AI ethically and responsibly.

In conclusion, embracing AI argumentation and AI automation will be pivotal for the legal profession in the coming years. By integrating these technologies into the training of young lawyers, particularly those from Gen Z, we can equip them with the critical thinking skills, complex problem-solving abilities, and ethical frameworks needed to navigate the future of legal practice. This proactive approach will ensure that the next generation of lawyers is well-prepared to leverage AI responsibly and effectively, driving innovation and excellence in the legal field.

In your opinion, what are the main trends that are salient in your country currently? 

In Brazil, we are accustomed to facing key trends that shape the current landscape across legal, political, economic, and business sectors.

I would highlight the legal reforms under discussion, which aim to enhance the efficiency, transparency, and fairness of the legal system. However, on the political side, we have been experiencing significant political polarisation. This has led to political unrest and challenges in governance, impacting the legal environment with concerns about maintaining the rule of law and the effectiveness of democratic institutions.

The sustainability of a real democracy in the country is also highly relevant, not only for the legal landscape but for businesses in general. This is something all in-house lawyers should closely follow.