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?  

A proactive and strategic approach to managing legal aspects during instability or crisis help organisations minimise risk and safeguard their interests. I would name the following steps as key factors: Risk assessments, effective communication and collaboration with other stakeholders, adaptability, risk mitigation, prioritisation and partnering with external crisis experts. 

By aligning legal strategy with group strategy, we can effectively leverage legal resources to support the group’s broader objectives and enhance overalls success, ultimately maximising value and minimising risk. With a strategic mindset and strong business acumen, our group legal affairs team acts not only as legal subject matter experts but has a proven track record as a trusted partner to the business in facilitating complex transactions and enabling cross-functional collaboration throughout the group. 

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?  

Sustainability is an important strategic pillar for our group. Besides having a clear sustainability strategy, we also worked over the last years on the governance side. Clear roles and responsibilities at headquarters and subsidiary level are key to drive successfully the sustainability agenda across multiple business fields. Together with two executive member colleagues, we lead the group ESG agenda. In general, the general counsel plays a multifaceted role in driving and ensuring sustainable practices within the company combining legal expertise (legal compliance, risk management, policy management, contract management, stakeholder engagement, litigation and reputational management) with strategic and ethical leadership to advance ESG objectives.