Association of Corporate Counsel launches online community for in-house professionals in Brazil

The Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC), a group representing over 46,000 in-house counsel worldwide, has announced the establishment of ACC Brazil, a new online community tailored for in-house legal professionals across Brazil.

This initiative aims to support the corporate legal community in South America's largest economy, connecting more than 1,000 in-house legal professionals from diverse industries such as consumer goods, energy, oil and gas, and telecommunications.

ACC Brazil will offer its members a unique virtual platform for networking, accessing a wealth of resources, and participating in both online and in-person events. These events will cover a range of pertinent topics, including the impact of artificial intelligence (AI), career development, evolving regulations, legal tech innovations, risk management, and more, catering to the specific needs and challenges faced by in-house legal professionals in Brazil.

Veta T. Richardson, ACC president and CEO, emphasized the strategic importance of Brazil as an economic powerhouse and its role in the global business landscape. "Brazilian in-house professionals, who face business challenges and opportunities that are similar to their global colleagues, will be able to conveniently tap into the ACC global community to quickly access helpful resources, get answers and recommendations from peers, and expand their network,” said Richardson.

The founding leadership of ACC Brazil comprises respected in-house leaders from top multinational companies. Paulo Samico from Mondelēz Brazil serves as chair, and Fernanda Funck from Microsoft, Felipe Coffone from Whirlpool, and Natália Dias from Grupo Nós serve as vice chairs.

In addition to legal training, ACC Brazil will also focus on developing key skills identified by the "2024 ACC Chief Legal Officers Survey" as crucial for law department leaders globally, such as business acumen, communication abilities, and executive presence. Paulo Samico expressed his honour in leading ACC Brazil and his commitment to strengthening the in-house counsel network in Brazil.

“My primary objective is to strengthen the in-house counsel network in Brazil and ensure that ACC Brazil develops valuable resources to address the dynamic and challenging issues that arise when conducting business in Latin America and beyond,” Samico said. “ACC's global network and expertise will be invaluable in supporting the needs of our members, including providing training to enhance legal, business, and soft skills for career advancement.”