Team size: Five

How has your role as in-house counsel evolved over the past few years, particularly in response to shifting global or regional dynamics?

I consider my role as an in-house lawyer to have become more preventative than reactive. I’ve focused more on seeking legal tools that allow me to prevent contingencies rather than mitigate impacts.

Can you describe a time when legal had to balance risk mitigation with enabling business innovation?

We once had to conduct an internal survey of all department heads to understand their pain points and the difficulties they faced in their day-to-day work with legal matters. This helped us identify many areas for improvement, which we were able to implement and thus prevent any contingencies from materialising.

How do you build and maintain strong relationships with key internal stakeholders, especially in high-pressure or fast-moving scenarios?

Holding regular follow-up meetings and maintaining a cordial and respectful relationship with each department. In some cases, a Gantt chart or follow-up report is required to review progress.

What do you consider the biggest challenge for in-house legal teams today, and how are you addressing it within your own team?

The biggest challenge for a legal department in a company is earning the trust of stakeholders, ensuring they feel confident in their internal legal team and that our recommendations are the most appropriate, as we always have the best interests of the company at heart.

How do you cultivate legal talent internally, and what skills do you see as most essential for the next generation of in-house lawyers?

In-house legal talent is cultivated by empowering your team through constant challenges and new responsibilities, especially for young lawyers. One of the most essential skills for the next generation of in-house lawyers is empathy; that is, putting yourself in the other person’s shoes to better understand their pain and find a solution.

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? 

Valero has a very strong ESG practice, whose core message is to be committed to advancing the future of energy through innovation, ingenuity, and unmatched execution. Our strategic actions have enabled us to be a low-cost, efficient, reliable, and leading producer of liquid transportation fuels for the world. Valero’s legal team aligns its efforts with these objectives and is responsible for enforcing these guidelines through policies, contracts, and other legal documents.