Legal team size: 33

Major legal advisers/ external counsel: DLA Piper, MacDermott Will & Emery, Skadden, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett

What are the projects that you are most proud of working on over the past 12 months?

The merger of Compass Group and Vinci Partners represented a highly complex cross-border transaction, involving multifaceted legal, regulatory, tax, and compliance considerations across more than ten jurisdictions. The deal reached a successful close following nearly a year and a half of rigorous due diligence, negotiations, and comprehensive execution planning. This transaction exemplified the challenges inherent in structuring and implementing large-scale international mergers, particularly in navigating multi-jurisdictional regulatory regimes and aligning diverse stakeholder interests. Its success reflects the exceptional professionalism, legal acumen, and collaborative effort of the legal and compliance team I am privileged to lead.

Based on your experiences in the past year, are there any trends in the legal or business world that you are keeping an eye on that you think other in-house lawyers should be mindful of?

It’s hard not to mention the growing role of artificial intelligence in the legal profession. We are seeing how it is changing the way in-house teams approach tasks like legal research, contract review, and compliance monitoring. With regulatory demands increasing across jurisdictions, AI offers meaningful support and significant time-saving opportunities. However, the challenge is ensuring that teams do not become over reliant on it, potentially limiting their own creativity and ability to contribute “human” perspectives. AI must be used with appropriate human oversight. At the end it only reaffirms that technology continues to be a great ally to legal work.

What are the key things you prioritise to get the most out of your team?

Getting the best out of a legal team requires a shared sense of dedication, care, and pride in the work. Attention to detail and professionalism are essential, but just as important is creating an environment where people feel supported and genuinely connected. While technical skills are expected, the real impact comes from strong communication, thoughtful expectation management, and commercial awareness. Building trusted relationships—both within the team and across the business—and fostering a collaborative spirit are key to growing together and contributing to the firm’s success.