Team size: 8

Can you describe an instance where your legal advice directly influenced business strategy or commercial objectives?

One of the most impactful examples was during a major transformation of our go-to-market strategy in Colombia following healthcare system reforms and significant changes in the flow of financial resources within the healthcare ecosystem. These changes created important operational and commercial challenges regarding how medicines reached patients and how payments flowed across the system. In response, we worked closely with our market access team to design and implement a “direct sales” model, aimed at reducing intermediaries and enabling more direct contracting structures with insurers — an approach that was not yet widely adopted in the market at the time.

From the legal side, our role went far beyond identifying risks. We developed the legal and regulatory strategy that allowed the business to move forward with this new commercial model in a compliant, sustainable and operationally viable way. This involved extensive analysis of healthcare regulations, contracting structures, compliance implications and risk mitigation mechanisms to support the transition.

Our legal advice directly influenced how the company would achieve its commercial objectives and reshape its go-to-market strategy in a highly evolving and uncertain environment. The new model not only helped facilitate patient access to medicines and improve predictability in resource flows, but also strengthened the company’s ability to operate more efficiently and strategically within the transformed healthcare system.

Beyond your legal role, is there a cause or initiative you are especially passionate about?

One of the causes closest to my heart is animal welfare, particularly the fight against animal abuse, neglect, and abandonment. For as long as I can remember, animals have been a fundamental part of my life. I have been involved in rescuing dogs and cats for many years, and much of my personal time outside work is dedicated to supporting and caring for vulnerable animals.

I also try to contribute to this cause through my professional skills whenever possible. I actively support foundations and animal welfare organisations, including providing pro bono legal assistance or helping in any way that can strengthen their mission. What makes this cause especially meaningful to me is that it reflects values I strongly believe in: empathy, responsibility and the importance of protecting those who cannot advocate for themselves. I believe the way a society treats animals speaks volumes about its humanity.

How do you manage situations where legal advice and commercial objectives conflict?

At Bayer, to navigate situations where legal advice and commercial objectives may conflict, we have developed a structured way of analysing risks that helps create clearer and more pragmatic decision-making.

We typically divide risks into three categories: business risks, legal risks and compliance risks. Business risks are commercial decisions that the business may consciously decide to assume depending on strategic priorities, competitiveness or operational needs. In those situations, our role is to ensure the business understands the potential implications and that decisions are taken with the appropriate governance and accountability.

Legal risks are risks where the primary consequence is legal or regulatory exposure, such as litigation, sanctions, investigations, contractual exposure, or loss of rights. In these cases, we assess materiality, probability and mitigation alternatives to determine whether the risk can be managed in a responsible and sustainable way.

Compliance risks, however, are treated differently. These are risks directly connected to ethics, integrity, anti-corruption principles, or the company’s core values. Within our framework, those risks are considered non-negotiable. If a situation crosses an ethical or compliance line, the discussion is no longer about balancing commercial objectives versus legal exposure.

This approach has helped us move away from the traditional perception of Legal simply saying “no.” Instead, it creates more transparent and business-oriented conversations around what type of risk exists, who owns it, whether it is assumable and what mitigation measures are necessary.

I believe this methodology allows Legal to act as a true strategic partner, protecting the company while also helping the business move forward responsibly and sustainably.