Team size: Nine

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?

As a lawyer for a multinational company operating in Brazil, I would approach managing legal aspects during periods of instability or crises with a proactive and comprehensive strategy. Firstly, I would ensure that our legal team is constantly monitoring the regulatory and political environment to anticipate potential risks. This involves staying updated on changes in laws, regulations, and other external factors that could impact the business.

During a crisis, I would prioritise clear and effective communication with both internal and external stakeholders. This includes working closely with other departments within the company to ensure that we have a coordinated response. I would also provide regular updates to senior management and the board of directors to keep them informed of legal developments and potential implications for the business.

Our legal strategy is closely aligned with the broader business strategy to ensure the organisation’s resilience. This means that we work hand-in-hand with the business units to understand their objectives and challenges, and we tailor our legal advice to support those goals. For example, if the business strategy focuses on expanding into new markets, we would conduct thorough due diligence and provide guidance on compliance with local laws and regulations.

Additionally, we emphasise the importance of risk management and contingency planning. This involves identifying potential legal risks and developing mitigation strategies to address them. By aligning our legal strategy with the overall business strategy, we help the company navigate through periods of instability and emerge stronger on the other side.

In summary, our approach to managing legal aspects during crises involves proactive monitoring, effective communication, alignment with business goals, and robust risk management. This ensures that we can support the organisation’s resilience and long-term success.

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

I have been actively involved in several significant cases and transactions recently that demonstrate our commitment to innovation and regulatory compliance in the payments industry.

To begin with, I have played an active role in contributing to the development of recent central bank draft regulations, specifically related to payment arrangement, risk management and banking as a service. My involvement included providing detailed legal analysis and feedback on proposed regulatory frameworks to ensure they align with industry practices and promote a secure and efficient payment ecosystem. By engaging with regulatory bodies and industry stakeholders, I helped shape policies that balance innovation with robust risk management.

Also, I have been highly engaged in a new cross-border payment project that aims to enable numerous account-to-account use cases. This project is designed to facilitate seamless and secure cross-border transactions, thereby enhancing the global reach of our payment services. My contributions included overseeing the legal aspects of the project, ensuring compliance with international regulations, and negotiating agreements with key partners. This initiative is expected to significantly expand our service offerings and improve the user experience for cross-border payments.

Furthermore, I supported the launch of Visa Passkey in Brazil, a cutting-edge authentication solution built to Fast Identity Online (FIDO®) standards. Visa Passkey represents the next step in card-not-present (CNP) authentication, offering valuable benefits such as reduced fraud and a smoother online checkout experience. My role involved navigating the regulatory landscape, ensuring compliance with local and international authentication standards, and facilitating the integration of this technology into our existing payment systems.

I actively participated in the launch of the new Visa benefit payment arrangement, which focuses on meal vouchers and other employee benefits. This initiative is a response to evolving legislation aimed at increasing competition in a traditionally concentrated market. My legal expertise was crucial in interpreting the new regulations, advising on compliance requirements, and structuring the benefit payment arrangement to maximise its competitiveness and appeal. This project not only enhances our product offerings but also supports the broader goal of fostering a more competitive and diverse market.

Overall, my involvement in these major cases and transactions highlights my dedication to advancing our company’s strategic objectives while ensuring regulatory compliance and fostering innovation in the payments industry.

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?

As a lawyer operating in Brazil, I see several emerging technologies having a significant impact on the legal profession in the near future. These include artificial intelligence, blockchain, and legal tech platforms.

Firstly, AI has the potential to revolutionise many aspects of the legal profession. Technologies such as machine learning and natural language processing can automate routine tasks such as document review, legal research, and contract analysis. This not only increases efficiency but also allows lawyers to focus on more complex and strategic aspects of their work. Also, Blockchain technology can enhance the security and transparency of transactions and record-keeping. For example, smart contracts can automate and enforce contractual terms without the need for intermediaries. This technology can be particularly useful in areas such as intellectual property, supply chain management, and corporate governance.

Furthermore, various legal technology platforms are emerging that offer tools for case management, e-discovery, and client collaboration. These platforms can streamline workflows, improve communication, and enhance the overall client experience.

To stay updated on these developments, I adopt a multi-faceted approach. Firstly, I regularly participate in continuing legal education programs, workshops, and seminars that focus on emerging technologies and their implications for the legal profession. I also engage with professional networks and associations, both locally and internationally, that provide insights and updates on technological advancements. This includes attending conferences and being an active member of legal tech forums.

In addition, I keep abreast of the latest developments by reading industry publications, research papers, and legal tech blogs. Subscribing to journals and newsletters from reputable sources helps me stay informed about new trends and innovations. Furthermore, I collaborate with technology experts and consultants who can provide specialised knowledge and training. This helps us understand the practical applications of new technologies and how they can be integrated into our legal processes.

Within the organisation, we also conduct regular training sessions and workshops to educate the legal team about new technologies and their potential impact. This ensures that our team is well-equipped to leverage these tools effectively.

By staying updated on these technological advancements, I can ensure that our legal department remains at the forefront of innovation, ultimately enhancing our ability to provide effective and efficient legal services.

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?

Prioritising diversity and inclusion within our legal department is a fundamental aspect of our organisational culture and values. We believe that a diverse and inclusive work environment not only enhances creativity and innovation but also leads to better decision-making and overall success. To prioritise diversity and inclusion, we have implemented several key initiatives.

To begin with, we actively work to build a diverse talent pipeline by partnering with recruitment agencies that focus on underrepresented groups. This ensures that we attract a wide range of candidates from different backgrounds. Also, our recruitment process is designed to be unbiased and inclusive. We provide training to hiring managers on recognising and mitigating unconscious bias, and we use standardised evaluation criteria to ensure fairness in candidate assessments.

Secondly, we conduct regular training sessions on diversity and inclusion for all members of the legal department. These sessions cover topics such as cultural competency, unconscious bias, and inclusive leadership. We have also established mentorship programs that pair junior lawyers with experienced mentors. These programs provide guidance, support, and career development opportunities, particularly for individuals from underrepresented groups. Thirdly, we promote an inclusive workplace culture. We support the formation of employee resource groups that focus on various aspects of diversity, such as gender, race, LGBTQ+, and disability. These groups provide a platform for employees to connect, share experiences, and advocate for positive change. We continuously review and update our workplace policies to ensure they promote inclusivity and equity. This includes flexible work arrangements, parental leave policies, and accommodation for employees with disabilities.

Lastly, we put our focus on performance and accountability. We start by tracking and analysing diversity metrics within the legal department to measure our progress and identify areas for improvement. These metrics include representation, retention, and promotion rates of diverse employees. Our leadership team is held accountable for promoting diversity and inclusion. This is reflected in their performance evaluations and the goals they set for their teams.