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?

With more than twenty years as a legal executive in the fashion industry, I have found that managing legal matters during difficult times demands both strong risk management skills and a flexible, strategic approach aligned with the company’s overall goals.

During periods of uncertainty—such as those caused by global conflicts, supply chain issues, or changing regulations—the legal team must protect the company while also enabling its strategy. My method has always focused on identifying risks early and planning for various scenarios, working closely with other departments to create legal strategies that anticipate challenges, ensure business continuity, and protect the brand.

Today, because global events strongly influence business, legal strategies must consider geopolitical factors. Rapid changes in regulations, sanctions, trade policies, and ESG standards require the legal department to broaden its perspective. We now include geopolitical analysis in our legal evaluations, helping the company try and adapt to changing environments with agility. Contracts have been updated with stricter sanction clauses and clear steps to address regulatory changes. Standard legal language is reviewed and tailored to handle future shifts in global regulation and political situations.

We now regularly track new legal, regulatory, and political developments worldwide, assessing how they might affect operations. This broader focus strengthens our contribution to the company’s resilience and long-term planning.

In your opinion, what are the main trends that are salient in your country currently?

As General Counsel for an Italian fashion brand, I’m observing several legal and political trends that are particularly relevant to our space. Our segment is under increasing scrutiny from both regulators and consumers to demonstrate sustainability—not just in messaging, but in practice. The EU’s CSRD and upcoming CSDDD regulations, as well as Italian Institutions, are pushing the industry to map and verify the suppliers more rigorously. This challenges companies’ abilities in integrating ESG metrics into contracts, disclosures, and supplier audits while ensuring compliance with anti-greenwashing rules which are still fragmented at a EU and world level.

When scaling internationally, particularly through franchise and wholesale models, cross-border legal compliance is critical—from commercial leases and IP licensing to customs and product labelling. Ensuring contractual clarity and brand control across markets is a top legal priority, especially where operations are conducted by local partners.

Geopolitical tensions and trade wars are jeopardising the fashion business, and the uncertainty adds on a structural crisis that’s troubling the business. The crisis currently being experienced by many brands is having a particularly significant impact on small Italian manufacturing companies, which for decades have been the backbone of Italian craftsmanship and the driving force behind the global success of “Made in Italy”. These companies are suffering from a significant decrease in orders, which is having a negative impact on employment and on the productive and social fabric of various areas of our country.