Philomena Pacheco
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Summary
Senior commercial and M&A lawyer with 19 years of post-qualification experience. Excelling in leading high-performing legal and business teams to deliver customer-centric solutions with clear purpose and strategic vision. Working as a commercial lawyer in Madrid and Hong Kong developed deep insights into international business cultures.
Extensive experience in leading multi-disciplinary virtual teams on complex, fast-paced, and innovative technology transactions and strategic projects. Delivered business growth while managing risk, demonstrating a broad understanding of the business organisation, regions, portfolio, and supporting operations.
Served on business leadership teams and steering committees, providing strategic direction and advising on group-wide topics impacting colleagues. Accomplished at building trust with stakeholders at all levels to CEO. Skilled in commercial acumen, resilience, empathy, and proactive approach to driving collaboration, efficiencies, and engagement within the legal function.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
2005
2005
years of post-secondary education
Work history
Principal Lawyer, Americas & UK Commercial
BT GrouP PLC
11.2023 - 09.2025
- Lead responsibility for overseeing the legal support, governance and resourcing for the Global Verticals, Indirect and Portfolio (Radianz and Trading & Command) in respect of major complex bids, disputes, product launches and in-life support with our global multinational customers across the UK and Americas.
- Key customers/partners supported include DHL, Santander, IAG, Rackspace, Accenture, Atos, Infosys and AT&T.
- Managing and developing a transatlantic team of 6 lawyers (4 senior, 2 junior) based in the US and UK to deliver commercial legal advice and support across our business units, supporting their professional development and leading them through change.
- Leading and contributing to operational and functional strategic projects, including serving as Global lead for All IP Migrations in the UK, Global legal lead on the ART Implementation project and DORA implementation.
- Working on Business LRC functional projects working alongside Factor and BT Legal Tech team to introduce efficiencies in ways of working, triage and optimal use of tech, including a monthly Design Board to refresh the Legal Front Door and Onit landing pages.
- Working closely and cross-functionally with General Counsels, Legal Directors, Managing Directors and other senior stakeholders across Global, Digital, Portfolio, Procurement, Finance, Regulatory and Compliance on deals, governance and strategic projects for the business and Legal function.
- Delivering knowledge training to the wider Global/Enterprise Legal team as part of our People Plans and Knowledge calls, including coordinating and hosting panel presentations on T-Shaped Lawyer (Financial Acumen) and ESG/BT Manifesto with business colleagues from Tax, Finance and Corporate Affairs.
- Currently participating in BT Business School, a mini-MBA programme led by Rob Shuter, which is a fantastic opportunity to strengthen my strategic skills and forge my network with other Business colleagues. I am one of only 2 colleagues from Business Legal selected for this year’s programme.
- Completed McKinsey’s Management Accelerator programme in 2023/24 and was on BT’s Elevate 2022/23 Talent Programme, being identified by the Legal LT as a colleague that has the ability, ambition and ambassadorship to take on broader roles as part of BT’s future.
- Panel speaker at Consero’s Legal Tech 2023 conference for in-house leaders on the topic of increasing DE&I in the legal profession.
Principal Lawyer, International Markets, Global
BT GrouP PLC
08.2022 - 10.2023
- Lead responsibility for overseeing the legal support, governance and resourcing for the Global Verticals, Indirect and Portfolio (Radianz and Trading & Command) in respect of major complex bids, disputes, product launches and in-life support with our global multinational customers across the UK and Americas.
- Key customers/partners supported include DHL, Santander, IAG, Rackspace, Accenture, Atos, Infosys and AT&T.
- Managing and developing a transatlantic team of 6 lawyers (4 senior, 2 junior) based in the US and UK to deliver commercial legal advice and support across our business units, supporting their professional development and leading them through change.
- Leading and contributing to operational and functional strategic projects, including serving as Global lead for All IP Migrations in the UK, Global legal lead on the ART Implementation project and DORA implementation.
- Working on Business LRC functional projects working alongside Factor and BT Legal Tech team to introduce efficiencies in ways of working, triage and optimal use of tech, including a monthly Design Board to refresh the Legal Front Door and Onit landing pages.
- Working closely and cross-functionally with General Counsels, Legal Directors, Managing Directors and other senior stakeholders across Global, Digital, Portfolio, Procurement, Finance, Regulatory and Compliance on deals, governance and strategic projects for the business and Legal function.
- Delivering knowledge training to the wider Global/Enterprise Legal team as part of our People Plans and Knowledge calls, including coordinating and hosting panel presentations on T-Shaped Lawyer (Financial Acumen) and ESG/BT Manifesto with business colleagues from Tax, Finance and Corporate Affairs.
- Currently participating in BT Business School, a mini-MBA programme led by Rob Shuter, which is a fantastic opportunity to strengthen my strategic skills and forge my network with other Business colleagues. I am one of only 2 colleagues from Business Legal selected for this year’s programme.
- Completed McKinsey’s Management Accelerator programme in 2023/24 and was on BT’s Elevate 2022/23 Talent Programme, being identified by the Legal LT as a colleague that has the ability, ambition and ambassadorship to take on broader roles as part of BT’s future.
- Panel speaker at Consero’s Legal Tech 2023 conference for in-house leaders on the topic of increasing DE&I in the legal profession.
Principal Commercial Lawyer, Division X and Wholesale
BT GrouP PLC
06.2019 - 07.2022
- Member of the Division X LT (led by Marc Overton) with lead responsibility for heading up the legal support, governance and resourcing for all 11 businesses, which span 5G, IOT, Health and other pioneering technologies, including inputting on GTM strategy for propositions like Virtual Ward and Digital Vision.
- Member of the MVNO LT (led by Nick Wootten) with lead responsibility for heading up heading up the legal support, governance and resourcing on major complex commercial bids with mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) and other mobile wholesale partners (e.g. Virgin Mobile, Utility Warehouse).
- Managing a team of 3 lawyers (2 senior, 1 junior) to deliver business-focussed legal advice and support across Division X and MVNO.
- Working closely and cross-functionally with General Counsels, Legal Directors, Managing Directors and other senior stakeholders, including across Enterprise, Procurement, Finance, Regulatory, Compliance and Technology on deals, disputes, delivery programmes and strategic projects (e.g. sanctions).
- Delivering knowledge training to the wider Enterprise Legal and Legal and Co Sec teams, including sharing content on Teams and Workplace and presenting at Sabine’s Legal & Co Sec All Hands Calls on the MVNO market and Division X.
- I was recognised on Sabine’s recent All Hands Call as part of the cross-functional team advising on sanctions against Russia.
Head of Legal, Global Finance Accounts, GS Legal
BT GrouP PLC
10.2017 - 05.2019
- Responsibility for Global Finance Accounts (led by Phil Swindle) and managing a team of 4 lawyers to deliver transactional support for global deals under complex MSAs for Lloyds, Zurich, Credit Suisse and DHL.
- Worked as part of the core team to prepare a BT standardised template of the MSA.
- Completing a 6-month secondment with the BT M&A Legal team (reporting to Edd Heaton), where I coordinated the vendor due diligence process and drafted the sale agreement for a strategic Global divestment (Project Inca).
Principal Legal Counsel, Mobile Wholesale and New Business
EE LIMITED
02.2015 - 09.2017
- Responsibility for the negotiation, execution and in-life support of major and complex contracts with MVNOs and other wholesale partners (including BT, Asda, Virgin and Truphone).
- Also worked on the EE insourcing of UK customer contact centre operations negotiating with BT and Concentrix (Project Harlequins and the rollout of Inlink units across the UK).
- Working closely with senior business stakeholders across Enterprise, Global and EE lines of business as well as Group Procurement, Finance and Tax on a diverse range of strategic commercial partnerships, delivering advice and transactional support for MVNO and the incubation business.
- Chaired the Professional Development committee of the EE Women Leaders Network, leading a cross-functional business team to deliver development and coaching programmes for top talent women across the EE business.
Senior Associate, M&A, Private Equity & Funds, London
Baker McKenzie
03.2003 - 12.2014
- Responsibility for leading and negotiating high value and high profile domestic and global M&A, private equity and commercial transactions as trusted advisor to multinational corporates, PE funds and financial institutions across multiple sectors, including telecommunications, technology, aviation, energy, infrastructure, financial services and banking.
- Key clients included Hutchison Whampoa, Three, Ontario Teachers Pension Plan, Citi and Advent Partners.
- Trained and qualified with Baker McKenzie in London in 2005.
- As part of the Firm’s global Associate Training Programme, I was seconded to work in the Firm’s offices in Madrid and Hong Kong.
- During this time, I cemented my relationship with the Firm’s key client, Hutchison Whampoa, and their global GC invited me to work on client secondments in their UK and Hong Kong offices.
- Developed strong technical and negotiation skills to prepare complex and bespoke transaction documentation as well as effective organisational and project management skills to lead global advisory teams of lawyers, accountants, lenders and investment banks in the execution of transactions to business-critical timescales.
- Extensively engaged in client care, relationship management and business development activities with global key clients, including delivering training to clients and lawyers at the Firm’s regional M&A and private equity conferences.
Group Senior Legal Counsel, Hutchison International, Hong Kong
HUTCHISON WHAMPOA GROUP (Client Secondments)
10.2013 - 01.2014
- Responsibility for negotiating major cross-border M&A and corporate transactions in the US, UK and Asia.
- I led and managed cross-functional teams (including finance, tax, technology and sales) on international projects of strategic importance to the Group, including Hutchison’s investment in global connectivity provider, Globetouch.
- I was based at Hutchison's Global Head Office in Hong Kong, reporting directly to the Head Group General Counsel (Edith Shih) and collaborating with executive board members and senior stakeholders including Group Financial Director (Frank Sixt) on the execution of strategic transactions and corporate governance.
Group Senior Legal Counsel, Hutchison Whampoa Europe, London
HUTCHISON WHAMPOA GROUP (Client Secondments)
06.2013 - 10.2013
- Responsibility for negotiating major commercial, IP and telecommunications transactions (including master supply agreements and international roaming discount agreements).
- Working closely with cross-functional business teams (including finance, tax, roaming, regulatory and marketing) to ensure commercial and strategic alignment.
- I was based at Hutchison's European Head Office in London, reporting directly to the Deputy Group General Counsel (Lorelei Fleming) and working as trusted adviser to senior business stakeholders on a diverse range of legal and business issues.
Senior Legal Counsel, Three UK, Maidenhead
HUTCHISON WHAMPOA GROUP (Client Secondments)
05.2012 - 08.2012
- Responsibility for negotiating major outsourcing, commercial and joint venture projects and collaborating with a range of senior stakeholders on core legal and business issues (including representing Three in its MBNL joint venture with EE in the negotiation of the outsourcing of maintenance and field operations on the radio access network).
- I reported directly to the General Counsel and Legal Director for Commercial and Networks.
Senior Associate, M&A, Corporate & Commercial, Madrid
Baker McKenzie
04.2009 - 04.2011
- Senior corporate and commercial lawyer with responsibility for leading, negotiating and coordinating high profile Spanish and cross-border M&A, private equity and commercial transactions (under English and Spanish law).
- This was an invaluable opportunity for me to work with civil lawyers in a new business culture to serve key strategic clients like Hutchison Whampoa and Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board on M&A and private equity deals.
- Delivered pro-bono legal advice and fundraising for international children’s charity, Plan International, in Madrid and volunteered as a translator with Plan Bolivia while on a sabbatical travelling in South America.
Education
Admission to Practice -
Law Society of England & Wales
Legal Practice Course - undefined
BPP Law School
Bachelor of Laws, LLB - undefined
University College London
A-Levels - undefined
Sydenham High School GDST
GCSEs - undefined
La Retraite Girls School
Skills
- Commercial law application
- Intellectual property rights management
- Strategic foresight
- Competition law understanding
- Resolving ethical dilemmas
- Contract law expertise
Timeline
Principal Lawyer, Americas & UK Commercial
BT GrouP PLC
11.2023 - 09.2025
Principal Lawyer, International Markets, Global
BT GrouP PLC
08.2022 - 10.2023
Principal Commercial Lawyer, Division X and Wholesale
BT GrouP PLC
06.2019 - 07.2022
Head of Legal, Global Finance Accounts, GS Legal
BT GrouP PLC
10.2017 - 05.2019
Principal Legal Counsel, Mobile Wholesale and New Business
EE LIMITED
02.2015 - 09.2017
Group Senior Legal Counsel, Hutchison International, Hong Kong
HUTCHISON WHAMPOA GROUP (Client Secondments)
10.2013 - 01.2014
Group Senior Legal Counsel, Hutchison Whampoa Europe, London
HUTCHISON WHAMPOA GROUP (Client Secondments)
06.2013 - 10.2013
Senior Legal Counsel, Three UK, Maidenhead
HUTCHISON WHAMPOA GROUP (Client Secondments)
05.2012 - 08.2012
Senior Associate, M&A, Corporate & Commercial, Madrid
Baker McKenzie
04.2009 - 04.2011
Senior Associate, M&A, Private Equity & Funds, London
Baker McKenzie
03.2003 - 12.2014
Legal Practice Course - undefined
BPP Law School
Bachelor of Laws, LLB - undefined
University College London
A-Levels - undefined
Sydenham High School GDST
GCSEs - undefined
La Retraite Girls School
Admission to Practice -
Law Society of England & Wales
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