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?

During periods of instability or crisis, teams must prioritise strategic tasks aligned with the company’s goals. We must focus on what is most important and know how to put on hold or abandon tasks that are not. Likewise, we must understand the business closely to offer our best advice and provide solutions to the situations that arise. As lawyers, we must develop different skills to think like our internal client without abandoning our role as legal counsel for the company. We must not forget our essence and the responsibility we have as in-house lawyers. No one will hire us solely for our financial or commercial skills.

What measures has your company taken to embed sustainability practices into its core business operations, and how does the role of the general counsel contribute to driving and ensuring sustainable practices within the company?

Our company has been developing several initiatives that seek to integrate good sustainability practices into its core activities. Our most important initiatives include measuring, managing, and mitigating our CO2 emissions, ensuring that 90% of our stores are equipped with LED lights, managing waste and recyclables in our distribution centers, and incorporating electric mobility for 20% of our “express” deliveries in our delivery operation. Additionally, we exclusively use biodegradable plastic bags in our stores and donate products (that remain in good condition) with lost commercial value. Furthermore, we provide training to both our employees and suppliers on environmental, social, and governance issues.

Our team provides necessary support in regulatory and legal matters to ensure these activities can be carried out without interfering with our core business operations. We evaluate alternatives and propose the most efficient implementation methods in our relationships with suppliers and customers.

How do you prioritise diversity and inclusion within your legal department, and what initiatives have you implemented to foster a more inclusive and equitable work environment?

A company aiming to have a positive impact on its environment must be committed to implementing best practices to manage its relationships with various stakeholders including suppliers, clients, and employees.

Regarding diversity, we must always associate it with equity, not equality. Diversity is real, and we must accept that each of us is the sum of many differences that make us unique. In our team, we accept, respect, and value diversity, creating the best environment for it. We should do so not only because it has a positive impact on the company’s bottom line but also because any effort to have a positive impact on our environment is welcome.