About

Can you briefly explain how the legal team is structured, highlighting key individuals and their role within the department?

The legal department of The Walt Disney Company (TWDC) is structured as one support department for the entire group in Brazil. Nowadays, we support Disney, ESPN, FOX and FOX Film operations, giving legal advice and supporting all areas of the companies, not only giving legal advice, but also managing claims at all courts. We have a legal director (Lucia Paolini) responsible for all legal matters and the supervision of the legal group in Brazil; one senior manager (Raphael Crescente) responsible for original productions, regulatory affairs and theatrical, one legal manager (Marilia Sodre Siviero) responsible for Disney group (all matters), one lawyer (Rejane Iunes) responsible for affiliates and ad sales for all companies of the TWDC Group, one senior lawyer (Daniel Kochen) responsible for sports acquisitions and ESPN legal matters (including production); one legal labour manager (Guilherme Moreira) responsible for all labour matters of the companies and one lawyer in Rio de Janeiro (Camila Nunes), dedicated to Fox Sports Operation. We also have two regulatory analysts, with a report line to Raphael Crescente, which are responsible for the Ancine reports and control. Our paralegal (Marcia Nogueira) is responsible for the archiving, agreement signatures and checking, payments and budget checking. We also have one intern in Sao Paulo and another in Rio de Janeiro.

What are the most significant cases and/or transactions that your legal team has been involved with in the last two years?

Our main team came from the FOX Group (FNG), including Paolini. With the purchase of FOX by Disney worldwide, we became responsible for giving all the necessary information and being the link between the external lawyers and the areas for the registration of the operation by CADE. After the CADE’s analysis, we started the separation of the FOX Sports Channels (considering the decision made) and also integrated all the companies of the Group, including FOX Film, which was a joint operation with Warner. After these two years, we are totally integrated, with one legal department for the entire Group and another legal separated for the Fox Sports operation.

What attributes are essential for an in-house legal team to possess?

To understand the business and take risk. An in-house lawyer should deeply understand the necessity of your internal client and give the best legal advice, giving alternatives when necessary. You cannot be “on top of the wall” or even not be there to your internal client. They need to trust you more than anything. Which does not mean that you cannot say “no”, but when you say no, you will be respected and listened to.

What are the most difficult hurdles to overcome when attempting to demonstrate value added by the legal team?

The first obstacle is to demonstrate that you are not only a “cost centre” but you can also add value (and sometimes bring economy – and money – to the company). If you believe that you are spending a lot with the legal department, try not to have one! For sure it will cost you much more!

What “legal tech” products does the team utilise? What is useful about the products and how could they be improved?

We use an internal system for contract and signature control and another one for claims and external lawyers. We also use digital signatures, which facilitates our day-by-day, especially for international contracts.

Is diversity and inclusion as a matter of internal policy on the agenda at your company? How much influence do you, as an in-house legal team, have on the diversity and inclusion policies of your organisation?

Yes. Disney takes very seriously the inclusion and diversity subjects. We have an internal group for discussions and how we can constantly improve it. As an in-house legal counsel (and a woman) I consider that my voice will be heard if I need it to be. I am completely satisfied (and proud) of the companies that I work for.

Have any new laws, government policies, regulations or judicial decisions greatly impacted your company’s business or your legal practice?

Yes. Lately we are in a legal discussion (which has extended to a parliamentary committee) whether or not the services offered by our company’s app apply or not to the rules set forth in the SeAc Law. Despite an unfavourable decision by ANATEL, we managed to revert to the judiciary and broadened the discussion to other market players. We are confident of our right and the role of the legal department in future business decisions for our group.