Experts from companies such as Iberdrola, Carrefour, or Prosegur participated in the event organized by the IE – ECIJA Digital Law Observatory. Although LegalTech tools are not yet radically transforming the legal sector, they are substantially improving the way lawyers practice their profession. Therefore, it is undeniable that a well-planned and executed technology implementation project has the potential to generate significant value. This is one of the main conclusions of the report on the impact of technology on legal departments in companies, resulting from a previous focus group with various professionals from the sector.
The IE Law School and ECIJA Digital Law Observatory aims to delve into and research the various legal dimensions and implications arising from the digital economy to become a space for legal and academic research and dissemination of the new legal framework.
The event featured the participation of Rosario Baquero, Head of Global Legal Services for Corporate Resources at Iberdrola; Juan Riego, Legal Advisory Director and Secretary of the Board at Carrefour Spain; Diolimar García, Director of Legal Advisory, Digital Transformation, and Global Projects at Prosegur Spain; Alejandro Sánchez del Campo, Advisor in Innovation and LegalTech; and Paul Handal, Legaltech Partner at ECIJA, who were welcomed by Macarena Plaza, responsible for corporate development and legal innovation at IE Law School and academic director of the Observatory.
Among other topics, the debate focused on how the innovation process in a legal department should be supported by the team of professionals, processes, and tools. “We should not start a project without having a business case or buy a tool without a pilot,” pointed out Diliomar García, who also highlighted the essential involvement of the team and the importance of asking questions to ensure that the initiative does not end up being an imposition.
Regarding the need to conduct a prior analysis of the situation of each legal department to understand the status of the function on which changes are to be made, Rosario Baquero, Head of Global Legal Services for Corporate Resources at Iberdrola, pointed out: “When launching a digital transformation project, it is necessary to have a clear understanding from the beginning of the type of legal advisory strategy I want to achieve.” Juan Riego, Legal Advisory Director and Secretary of the Board at Carrefour Spain, stated that “nowadays, there is no single solution that answers all needs,” adding that “we must not fear change and not give up on finding the right tool for the organization.”