The legal side of fashion retail
Ursula Rodríguez Robles, head of legal at Kiabi in Spain and Portugal, examines how the legal department supports the sector’s transformation in areas such as sustainability, digitalisation and new regulations
by glória paiva
The fashion retail sector is undergoing a profound reassessment. Alongside the pressures of a global and competitive market, a new European regulatory framework now redefines waste management, eco-design and producer responsibility throughout the entire product lifecycle — including the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme for textiles, home textiles and footwear. In this volatile scenario, profiles such as Ursula Rodríguez Robles’ become crucial. After starting her career at PwC and moving through sectors as diverse as real estate, with CBRE España, and logistics, with GXO, she has led Kiabi’s legal department in Spain and Portugal since 2023. From there, she accompanies the transformation of the brand belonging to the French Mulliez family group, precisely as sustainability, compliance and digitalisation advance at a rapid pace. Her team manages the day-to-day operations of 74 stores in Spain and 13 in Portugal, as well as driving projects ranging from real estate to environmental regulation. “The new rules mark a turning point: sustainability ceases to be a reputational value and becomes a regulatory and competitive imperative”, she notes. In this interview with Iberian Lawyer, Ursula Rodríguez discusses the challenges of a sector that can no longer afford to delay its adaptation.
What skills or approaches do you consider essential to lead a legal department in a multinational retail company?
More than knowing the law, it is important to understand the business, the culture, the people and operational realities. Retail is a fast-moving, changing and multidisciplinary environment, where every decision has a direct impact on stores, teams and customers. The in-house lawyer’s approach must be business-oriented, flexible and preventative. This is what allows you to anticipate risks and provide real solutions. Key competencies include a cross-functional vision, the ability to simplify legal matters, closeness and collaboration with teams, and innovation through digital tools and agile methodologies. Legal leadership requires combining technical solidity, a service mindset and a deep curiosity about the business.
What are the main legal challenges at Kiabi and in fashion retail today?
Supporting transformation. Retail is no longer just about selling clothes. We are talking about the circular economy, second-hand, marketplaces, omnichannel, artificial intelligence… and all of this requires a much more integrated, adaptable and business-proximate legal function. The regulatory environment is increasingly demanding.
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