Publication date: 18.08.2025
Experienced Senior Legal Executive with 20+ years in multinational organizations, including multiple roles as General Counsel. Skilled in IT, IP, software licensing, M&A, compliance, and complex cross-border agreements. Trusted advisor delivering strategic, practical solutions to business, sales, finance, and operations teams in competitive environments.
Legal Service Case: Comprehensive Support of an International Corporation
Situation Description
Stefanini, Inc. (Southfield, MI) – a global leader in IT services with nearly 20,000 employees and annual revenue approaching $1 billion. Between June 2014 and February 2020, the Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary provided full legal support for the company’s operations in North America and the Asia-Pacific region.
Below is a fragment of key achievements that became part of the case:
Case Material
Stefanini, Inc., Southfield, MI
Vice President, General Counsel, Corporate Secretary, June 2014 – February 2020
- Oversaw all legal functions for North America and Asia Pacific for the U.S. entity of Stefanini Group, a private Brazilian IT services company with global presence. Stefanini employs nearly 20,000 globally with revenues approaching $1B.
- Served as Director for 17 Stefanini entities worldwide, including the Holding Company in the UK and subsidiaries in Asia and Europe. Reported directly to the CEO.
- Managed the Legal Department, including remote staff and outside counsel across the globe.
- Provided legal consultation on transactional matters involving entities in Latin America and Europe. Established 7 new entities in Europe and China.
- Drafted and advanced transactions for sales teams involving artificial intelligence, digital applications, service desk, enterprise software services, and cloud computing.
- Advised on governance and operational responsibilities for sourcing and reseller agreements, coordinating with cross-functional teams in sales, marketing, operations, and finance.
- Conducted legal analysis of service-level agreements to ensure compliance and prevent value leakage in client and third-party contracts.
- Negotiated, drafted, and executed a wide array of commercial transactions, including corporate formation, Master Service Agreements, RFPs, M&A, acquisition due diligence, GDPR, partnership agreements, facility leases, subsidiary agreements, commercial loan agreements, insurance policies, employment and severance agreements, marketing contracts, ISO reviews, certifications, and immigration-related agreements.
- Defended the company in labor and employment claims, including EEOC and workplace disputes, ensuring effective rights protection.
Key Achievements Included:
- Established contract management processes with dashboards and metrics; developed contract templates (NDAs, subcontractor agreements).
- Oversaw global corporate governance and compliance for entities across Asia, Europe, and North America, including annual meetings and financial reporting.
- Coordinated with HR on wrongful termination claims based on race or gender discrimination (U.S. and Philippines), achieving dismissals or low-cost settlements.
- Developed an immigration program and coordinated with outside law firms in the U.S., India, and the Philippines.
- Managed global corporate insurance programs, providing expert opinion on claims and advising on contractual insurance terms.
- Coordinated privacy and security compliance programs, including GDPR.
- Negotiated facility leases in North America and Asia Pacific; managed litigation in Michigan involving property disputes.
- Provided legal justification and advice on intellectual property options for innovative products and marketing initiatives.
Legal Tasks in the Case
- Legal expertise and legal analysis of contracts and international agreements.
- Preparation of legal conclusions on establishing new entities in Europe and China.
- Assessment of legal risks in labor law disputes in the U.S. and the Philippines.
- Legal issue review regarding GDPR compliance and local law requirements.
- Legal audit of corporate governance for 17 legal entities.
- Rights protection in disputes with property owners and in labor conflicts.
Results
- Produced legal justification for more than 50 IT service transactions.
- Conducted legal expertise of contracts with partners across North America, Latin America, Europe, and Asia.
- Developed new contract templates, optimizing processes and reducing costs.
- Established an effective corporate governance mechanism for a global network of companies.
- Implemented GDPR-compliant privacy and security programs.
Why It Matters for the Client
Legal audit and legal analysis ensured compliance and reduced risks in multiple jurisdictions.
The client received an expert opinion on risks when entering new markets.
Systematic work allowed significant savings in resolving labor disputes.
Examples of Services Provided
- Preparation of legal conclusions for new contracts.
- Legal consultation on corporate governance issues.
- Legal expertise of M&A agreements.
- Assessment of legal risks in labor disputes.
- Legal justification in intellectual property matters.
Q&A
Question
What is the difference between a legal audit and legal analysis?
Answer
A legal audit is a comprehensive review of a company’s activities, while legal analysis focuses on specific documents or situations.
Question
Why is the preparation of legal conclusions necessary?
Answer
They provide the client with a clear legal justification for decisions, reducing risks.
Question
How is rights protection ensured in labor disputes?
Answer
Through negotiations, document preparation, and participation in hearings, often avoiding costly litigation.
Question
Yes legal consultation required for international agreements?
Answer
Yes, because every jurisdiction has specific rules, and only legal expertise ensures safe transactions.
The Stefanini, Inc. case demonstrates the effectiveness of comprehensive legal support for international business. By combining legal expertise, preparation of legal conclusions, assessment of legal risks, legal audit, legal issue review, legal analysis, expert opinion, legal consultation, legal justification, and rights protection, the company ensured stable corporate governance across 17 jurisdictions, minimized labor disputes, and strengthened global compliance. This case shows how systematic legal work optimizes business processes and enhances the legal security of an international corporation.
