Placed by Vialegis +10 years ago!

We are happy to see that many candidates placed by us many years ago still happily work at the same place. It is with pleasure that we can share some of these success stories with you. Meet Javier Communale, Senior Legal Counsel Europe at Securitas.

Can you give us an overview of your career?

Two years after graduating as a lawyer in Argentina, I realized that technology was evolving rapidly (it was the time when telecommunications, especially the internet, was booming), so I decided to pursue an LLM with a focus on technology. Alongside my studies, I worked for a law firm specializing mainly in commercial matters until I was invited to become a partner in another law firm. These years were decisive for the rest of my career. As a young lawyer, I had the opportunity to provide advice to some of the most renowned telecommunications companies entering the local market at that time. Additionally, I established the trademark department in this law firm. This small department grew over the years into a successful office specializing in trademarks. After almost 10 years, I moved to Belgium, where I got married to my wife, and we settled as a family in the Kempen region. After an adjustment period, during which I learned Dutch, I decided to return to the university and pursued a Master's degree in Business Law at UA (University of Antwerp). That's where my journey as a legal counsel in Belgium began. In December 2008, I contacted Vialegis for a specific job opening, and after a smooth process, I started working for Securitas, a Scandinavian multinational security company, in February 2009, in the Legal Department of the Aviation and European Division...still my current employer. At Securitas, I had the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues from different regions, learn about different legal systems, and fulfill various roles. Initially, I focused mainly on supporting the global expansion of the Aviation Division and the Global Clients accounts of the EU Division. Later, I was appointed as a Senior Legal Counsel to support the division's corporate transformation strategy, where technology and digitalization play a crucial role. It seems that the circle is now complete. I realize that I have come a long way, and that makes me proud.

In your experience, has the role of a legal counsel evolved, and if so, what skills have become more important?

It is difficult for me to compare since this is my first experience as a legal counsel. However, it is clear that technology also influences the way security services are delivered today, and this naturally affects the daily work of a legal counsel. While the essence of the business remains the same, the digitization of various processes brings new challenges, not only in terms of compliance. It becomes essential for legal counsels to be at the table to help the business deal with these challenges.

In your opinion, what are the major challenges that legal counsels will face in the coming years?

No one can predict when a new disruptive technology will change the rules again. But one thing is certain... it will happen in a much shorter period than the most recent trends. Therefore, there is an increasing need for training to stay on top of the wave. Needless to say, dynamism and flexibility remain fundamental skills for legal counsels.

Would you recommend young lawyers to pursue a career as legal counsels, and if so, for what reasons?

There are many different interpretations of the concept of a legal counsel. Based on my experience, the answer is yes because as a legal counsel, you become part of the business and are more than just an advisor. This gives you the opportunity to reconsider and apply the knowledge you gained at university in service of the company's strategy. It goes without saying that if you enjoy working in a multinational environment and are curious enough, you will happily become acquainted with other legal systems.