Speakers
Carolina León, partner, Pellerano & Herrera
Carolina León is a Partner at Pellerano & Herrera, one of the leading full-service law firms in the Dominican Republic, and one of the heads of the firm’s Business Legal Consulting practice. She is a leading Corporate and M&A adviser with more than 20 years of experience advising multinational corporations, private equity sponsors, strategic investors, and financial institutions on complex domestic and cross-border transactions.
Carolina is particularly recognized for leading high-value acquisitions, divestments, restructurings, and market-entry strategies in highly regulated and capital-intensive industries. Her practice focuses on foreign investment, corporate and regulatory law, corporate governance, and mergers and acquisitions, particularly within sectors such as energy and free zones.
She has successfully negotiated transactions between buyers and sellers and regularly advises clients on securing financing for complex deals. Carolina has also acted as local counsel in multi-jurisdictional syndicated financings and has advised on high-impact projects, including mining concessions, renewable energy developments, and large-scale infrastructure and telecommunications financings. Her role in major cross-border transactions underscores her reputation as a trusted adviser in highly regulated markets.
Zelma Acosta-Rubio, independent director/ former EVP, corporate affairs & legal, Interbank
Independent director and senior executive with international experience at the intersection of strategy, governance, and regulated industries, including leadership roles at Interbank and Intercorp Financial Services (NYSE: IFS). She was a member of Interbank’s Executive Committee for 19 years, participating in the principal leadership forum responsible for defining strategy, overseeing business performance, and addressing corporate-level risks at one of Peru’s leading financial institutions, while also leading, in her role as General Counsel, the legal, corporate affairs, and sustainability functions.
She began her career at Milbank (New York) and Clifford Chance (London, Lima, and São Paulo), advising on privatization processes and major infrastructure and energy projects in the region. She serves on boards and participates in director training programmes, contributing to the strengthening of institutions across Latin America. She has been recognised by Chambers & Partners and The Legal 500 GC Powerlist among the leading General Counsel in Latin America.
Christiann A. Hudtwalcker Zegarra, general counsel, Telefónica del Perú
Christiann Hudtwalcker is a General Counsel & Corporate Affairs Executive with more than 25 years of experience in legal, regulatory, public affairs and crisis leadership. He served as Vice President of Legal, Regulatory, Public Affairs and Corporate Communications at Telefónica del Perú S.A.A., and as Secretary of the Board of Telefónica del Perú, Telefonica Factoring and Fundación Telefónica, where he was also a Council Member. He holds a Law and Political Science degree from the Universidad de Lima and a Master’s in International Business Law from KU Leuven. He has been a panelist and speaker at high‑level forums on the evolving role of in‑house counsel and strategic legal leadership.
Mario Flor López, partner, Flor Bustamante Pizarro & Hurtado
Mario Flor focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions, project and corporate finance, and energy and natural resources. Mario has extensive experience advising on complex cross-border M&A and large-scale international transactions, particularly in regulated sectors such as electricity, mining, oil and gas, and telecommunications. He regularly represents international financial institutions, export credit agencies (ECAs), multilateral lenders, and commercial banks in high-value financings and PPP projects, often linked to strategic acquisitions and infrastructure investments. He is also an experienced mediator and arbitrator.
Roque Bernardo Bustamante Espinosa, partner, Flor Bustamante Pizarro & Hurtado
Roque Bustamante has extensive experience in the mining and oil and gas sectors, advising on complex transactions. He has played a key role in major project financings and high-profile corporate and M&A matters, including the landmark acquisition of SABMiller by AB InBev. His practice combines deep industry knowledge with a pragmatic approach to cross-border and domestic deals, supporting clients in navigating regulatory frameworks and achieving business objectives.
Margherita Birri, research editor, Legal 500