About

J. García Carrión (JGC) was founded in 1890 and in these 120 years of history García Carrión has evolved into a leader of the wine and juice market in Spain, as the first winery in Europe and the fifth in the world and the second brand of juice in Europe. Its commercial activity is extended to more than 130 countries in the fifth continent. The legal department is led by the newly appointed legal director, David Lopez Medina, who recently moved from Lactalis Group and encompasses a rich legal career in the food sector having gained a reputation for being a trusted legal advisor to management. At JGC, Medina has had the opportunity to work on developing a dynamic in-house legal team, ‘introducing the use of technology to transform both the legal department and how lawyers are seen within the company, becoming effective business partners’, says Medina. The legal team has been trained in a way that sees them develop an innovative and flexible in-house structure to ensure that the in-house function is driving the business forward. Lawyers at JGC are, ‘negotiators, litigators and counsellors’, according to Medina, providing mission-focused legal services to support and safeguard the business as it grows worldwide, and design solutions specifically for JGC’s unique family culture. ‘The team is well prepared to assume the different matters in the company both domestic and international. Moreover, the group is facing a restructuring to improve the market and production’, says a nominator. Part of this restructuring has entailed the team providing value advice, using IT tools to standardise routine work and to partake in the follow up of compliance issues and manage boards of directors as well as annual general meetings. ‘The law department is starting to implement online trainings, as well as the use of other innovative ways of communications and awareness. Within the IT team we are also helping to analyse and develop technical solutions to deal with the day-to-day legal operations and files, and driven compliance policies’, explains Medina. JGC’s legal team is also reinforcing a highly creative and commercial approach so that the team can thrive in a sales-oriented environment, reinforcing the ability to take ownership of their own development by attending trainings and staying up to date in legal developments and working in cross-collaboration with other departments of the group around the world.