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We are a ‘hands-on department’, focused on providing direct practical answers to the everyday affairs of the company. Whether it is a labour, commercial, corporate. Basically any matter that requires our attention, we get immediately involved.
The senior lawyer, Elizabeth Mena Fernandez, works directly with the corporate affairs of the company and liaises with other offices located in Australia and China, who collaborate with us and our operations. She also manages the relationships with the stakeholders and the public relations of the company, provides guidance related to compliance, governance, permits and tax matters as well as to lead the legal team. In addition, que represents the company’s interest at several corporate associations, at the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI-RD) and co-chairs the company’s foundation with the corporate social responsibility of the company.
Lauramarie Cornelio, associate, works on contractual matters, labour affairs and support the company’s commercial operations. She represents the legal team in the company’s sustainability committee. Lastly, the team counts on the daily support of Sr. Wilver Soto, as a paralegal, assisting in the administrative and paper work of the department.
The legal department covers the company’s operation in North America, particularly the operations in Dominican Republic and Canada. It also works closely with the legal department of its parent companies.
When it comes to working with the legal department from our parent companies outside the region, many challenges that are transcendental for us, are the difference in the applicable legislation, cultural approach to doing business and the time zones.
Absolutely. Our legal team has integrated into its work, the elaboration, implementation and review of all company policies. It is in charge of making sure the company is in compliance with its obligations, runs the public relations and also co-chairs the corporate social responsibility programme and its part of several committees in the company such as the health and safety committee and the sustainability committee. Also we take care to monitor the achievement and maintenance of the certifications conceded to the company.
The main focus of the company is a basic one: to continue with the development of the operation of the underground mine, the first underground mine in the Dominican Republic. In consequence, operating permits, now represents – and will do so for a long period of time – a constant challenge for the company and particularly for the legal team.
Secondly, we can also refer to the work of structuring and obtaining permits for the business diversification projects that the company will be putting in place for the years 2020 and 2021. Notwithstanding the foregoing, we cannot stop mentioning the steady job of working as propelling agents for several bills that are essential not only to the extractive industry but to the country.
Rather than looking forward, let’s start by taking a look at the present. Technology can optimise any job, and legal work is no exception. It can also keep us connected across the world and that by itself it is one of the greatest advances.
Technological advances in terms of data analysis, are already useful tools to make the work of a lawyer more efficient and in the future it will surely open new doors regarding the legal exercise particularly assisting on a faster and smarter investigations and studies.
Advances in cybersecurity will benefit the confidentiality of the client’s information. In a world where storage, accessibility and mobility is essential.
The legal profession is one of the most traditional professions and lawyers understand that we are generally reactive to change. Particularly the lawyers who have been trained under the French law system where the codification principle does not change the laws quickly and in some cases we still have laws in force since the 18th century. But that statement must be added to the long list of urban legends. Nothing is further from reality. The world and the way of doing business are constantly changing and lawyers are active participants in the changes, which are increasingly fast and frequent. Sometimes, after assimilating a change, another has already occurred. Whether from a law firm or an internal lawyer, legal professionals adapt to changing situations instantly. The lawyer is able to advise a technology company on issues such as ethics linked to artificial intelligence and family businesses on generational transitions. Likewise, we support financial institutions in complex structures and innovative start-ups. Our duty includes becoming familiar with our clients’ industries, so that we can add value to their business. All this forces us to be able to quickly learn about various topics, leave our comfort zone and think and act -creatively within the framework of the law- to provide the service that customers require Perhaps our greatest challenge is to apply that capacity of mutation for the benefit of the management of our practices; since we are not able to use the same ability when we have to make changes in our offices in order to adapt to world currents. That is when we are more reluctant and sometimes we forget that we must embrace innovation. That we must have knowledge and good management of marketing, social networks and data analysis issues. It is important that lawyers develop so-called ‘soft skills’ to communicate efficiently in a globalised and digital world, but without forgetting the basic aspects of the needs of our companies. It is important that lawyers embrace technology and innovation in the way they provide our services in order to adapt ourselves to the world needs.
