Driving company success
Sónia Valadas, the new legal head of Novartis Portugal, reflects on the critical role of legal teams in shaping corporate strategy and the importance of multidisciplinarity in this area
by glória paiva
To be a competent in-house lawyer, it is not enough to understand the law. It is necessary to have management skills, understand the market in which you operate, and possess communication skills, as well as having a deep knowledge of the company’s products and services. This multidisciplinarity is part of the daily life of the new country legal head of Novartis Portugal, Sónia Valadas. With 15 years of experience at the pharmaceutical giant and two years at Sandoz, Valadas took over the legal department at Novartis in June of this year, also becoming a member of the oard of Directors (here the news). Her career reinforces, as she herself says, the importance of the legal sector in the strategic and decision-making areas of the organization. She spoke with Iberian Lawyer about her career, challenges, and prospects for the legal department at Novartis Portugal.
What has changed in the legal department of the company during your 15 years at Novartis?
Novartis has changed a lot over these 15 years. Initially, it was a group with very diverse business units. Today we are a company 100% focused on innovation in the areas of cardiovascular, neurosciences, immunology, and oncology. The legal department naturally follows this evolution.
How does the legal department at Novartis operate internally today?
We work in a very integrated way with other headquarters, with multidisciplinary, international teams in synergy. We have teams dedicated to specific matters outside of Portugal, and we benefit from their support. In Portugal, there are no other lawyers besides me, but there are colleagues abroad who work and focus on issues related to Portugal and the areas that interest us.
What are the first changes and projects you wish to introduce as legal head?
I am in a transition phase, listening to the needs of the company. I am consulting with my stakeholders to understand their needs as well. The legal department has a very important role, not only in legal advice but also as a strategic partner of the company as a whole. We cannot look to the future without looking to the legal dimension; we must consider the products, the market, and also the current and future legislative challenges, which can have a positive or negative impact on the company.
What is the role of the legal department in the company’s global strategy?
