CUNEF Universidad discusses the transformation of corporate legal practice: more strategic, technological and human

On 12 February, the Auditorium of CUNEF Universidad hosted a discussion on “The strategic transformation of corporate legal profession”, the latest session of “Thursday Law at CUNEF Universidad”, a seminar series on current legal topics. The session, which featured guest speakers Juan Fernández Tamames, lawyer and member of the Criminal Compliance Committee at Telefónica España, Miriam Domínguez, EU Head of Legal at Cabify, and América Pastor, Chief Legal Officer at Restaurant Brands Europe, was chaired by Andrés Betancor, Director of the Department of Law at CUNEF Universidad.

The experts agreed that the role of corporate lawyers has changed dramatically, especially on a cultural level, shifting from stoppers to key allies in business strategy and development. As Juan Fernández Tamames pointed out, the change has come down to “understanding and supporting the business, so that talking to the lawyer is no longer perceived as an obstacle, but rather as a resource that enables the company to operate under controlled risk”.

An ally that manages reputational risk

In highly competitive or disruptive industries, the role of corporate lawyers is even more critical. América Pastor explained that to be flexible advisors, lawyers must be involved in the strategy from the start, always asking themselves “how to do it, rather than say no”. According to Pastor, the goal is “to ensure that ideas go ahead while keeping the company safe, or even assessing what risks we are willing to take, because zero risk is impossible”.

In this context, reputation management becomes a priority. Miriam Domínguez focused on reputational crises, explaining that an external event can create a perfect storm for a company’s image. “Trust is one of a company’s greatest assets, which is why lawyers also have to be reputational risk managers,” she concluded.

Standing out in a globalised world

During the discussion, the speakers also talked about the risks entailed by this greater integration into the business, namely the threat to two essential qualities in a lawyer: independent judgment and professional secrecy. They defended that critical thinking is, precisely, the greatest value brought by a lawyer. “Companies don’t want someone who says yes to everything,” said América Pastor. Looking ahead, they highlighted the need for reforms to increase legal certainty, such as explicit recognition of professional secrecy for company lawyers.

Humanity and sound judgment in the face of AI

Regarding the impact of technology, the speakers argued that, although AI is a very useful and efficient tool, the real risk lies in legal professionals delegating judgment to artificial intelligence. They insisted that technology must be an ally. “We have to live with it and learn; the old ‘I like searching case law by hand’ is no longer valid,” said Fernández Tamames. In the face of automation, lawyers’ differential value lies in their human qualities. As Andrés Betancor outlined, “the only way to face the machine is by asserting humanity and enhancing the qualities that identify us as humans”.

The conference highlighted the consolidation of a new paradigm for corporate law, where lawyers must not only master legal methods, but also provide strategic vision, ethical judgment and adaptability to generate value in a constantly changing market.