November 3 2025
Case Studies
Ronnie Emanuel
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Mondelez International, the global powerhouse behind beloved brands such as Cadbury, Oreo, and Ritz, has always believed that people are at the heart of its success. The company’s legal team lives and breathes these values, placing culture and talent development at the core of everything they do.
When Mondelez first discovered Flex Legal’s Flex Trainee programme through an in-house legal network, the team saw an exciting opportunity to align their people-first values with a meaningful way to develop future legal talent.
Why Mondelez chose Flex Trainee
Mondelez’s legal team had been looking for ways to strengthen its trainee pipeline. After meeting the Flex Legal team at a conference, they were inspired by the initiative’s mission to improve social mobility and create fairer access to the legal profession.“We were really impressed by the confidence, communication, and engagement of the Flex Trainees we met. Many hadn’t had the same opportunities as others in the profession, and seeing their potential first-hand was incredibly motivating.”
Sunil Sehgal, Chief Counsel at Mondelez
The Flex Trainee model provided a new, accessible way to bring trainee-level resource into the in-house team, while also investing in the future of the legal profession.
Culture and talent development at the core
For Mondelez, diversity and inclusion aren’t just buzzwords - they’re embedded into the organisation’s DNA.We sell to consumers all over the world, so it’s vital that our workforce reflects the diversity of the people who enjoy our products,” explained Hina, Senior Legal Counsel. “We want our teams to represent different backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences.”
By working with Flex Legal, Mondelez is helping to bridge the gap that still exists in the legal industry, where access to networks, sponsors, and opportunities often remains unequal. The team recognises that the path to qualification can be especially challenging for aspiring lawyers from lower socioeconomic or underrepresented backgrounds.
Supporting trainee development
Mondelez’s current Flex Trainee, Tom, joined the team nearly a year ago and has quickly become an integral part of the legal function.Tom completed Flex Legal’s ‘Readiness Programme’ before starting, which Hina described as “really helpful in preparing him for the realities of in-house work.” She noted that Tom regularly draws on lessons from the training and continues to develop his skills through monthly check-ins and structured competency reviews with the Flex Legal team.
“The structure Flex provides helps both us and the trainee focus on the right things. It’s reassuring to know that Flex are in the background, supporting Tom’s development and ensuring he’s getting a rounded experience.”
Hina Parmar, Senior Legal Counsel at Mondelez
Flex Legal’s ongoing support means that Mondelez can adapt its approach to supervision without compromising on the quality of the training experience.
Accessing exceptional talent
Before partnering with Flex Trainee, Mondelez recognised how challenging it could be to find trainee talent of this calibre through traditional routes.“We’ve been incredibly impressed by the quality of the trainees - each has a unique story and route into law, which brings real strength of character,” Sunil shared.
Tom has integrated seamlessly into the business, earning the respect of colleagues across different functions and geographies. His growing confidence, sense of responsibility, and contribution to projects have demonstrated the real impact of investing in diverse, early-career legal talent.
Adding value to the legal team
For Mondelez’s in-house legal team, the Flex Trainee programme has provided a valuable new resourcing route. It has allowed the team to delegate research and project tasks more effectively, freeing up capacity to focus on strategic work.“Tom’s contribution has added real value and helped the whole team work more efficiently,” said Hina.
The initiative has also encouraged the team to think more creatively about legal resourcing and inspired conversations within the broader European legal network about innovative ways to support social mobility in law.
Looking ahead
For Sunil and Hina, the programme is more than just a resourcing solution - it’s a way to live out the company’s values and contribute to a fairer, more inclusive legal profession.“We recognise the value in it entirely, both for our team and for the individuals we’re supporting. It’s about giving back and investing in the future of our profession.”
Sunil and Hina, Mondelez
Mondelez’s partnership with Flex Legal demonstrates how large organisations can make a tangible impact on social mobility within the legal industry. By opening doors for aspiring lawyers like Tom, Mondelez is not only meeting its business needs but also championing a more inclusive future for the profession.