Team size: Four

How do you approach managing legal aspects during periods of instability or crises, and how does your legal strategy align with the broader business strategy to ensure the organisation’s resilience?

Legal aspects are considered critical in the chamber environment, and as such our strategy is built on being highly proactive and relying on preemptive measures to prevent risky situations from escalating into crises. This approach equips the legal team to address challenges swiftly, ensuring that potential legal issues are identified, assessed, and mitigated before they can disrupt operations.

During periods of instability or crisis, we focus on maintaining clear risk-mitigation protocols, safeguarding compliance with applicable laws, and ensuring transparent communication with stakeholders. By doing so, we not only manage immediate legal risks but also strengthen the organisation’s credibility and trustworthiness in uncertain times.

Our legal strategy aligns closely with the broader business strategy by prioritising resilience, continuity, and adaptability. We work in tandem with leadership to integrate legal risk management into decision-making processes, ensuring that strategic initiatives are both legally sound and operationally sustainable. In this way, the legal function supports the chamber’s long-term stability, protects its reputation, and enhances its capacity to seise opportunities even in challenging contexts.

What are the main cases or transactions that you have been involved in recently?

As the Director of the Chamber’s Arbitration Center, I am not permitted to disclose the specifics of the many cases we administer. However, I can report that we are the largest arbitration centre in the country, both in terms of the number and the value of the proceedings under our administration. The matters we handle cover a wide range of disputes, including construction, commercial, corporate, and contractual issues. In addition, we collaborate closely with most of the leading law firms in the country, which allows us to maintain high standards of quality, impartiality, and efficiency in the resolution of disputes.

What role does the legal department play in promoting and ensuring corporate social responsibility in your organisation?

The legal department plays a central role in embedding corporate social responsibility (CSR) into the organisation’s framework. Our task extends beyond ensuring compliance with applicable laws—we work to integrate ethical standards, sustainability, and accountability into business decisions. By drafting clear policies, advising on governance practices, and monitoring compliance, we ensure that CSR commitments are translated into enforceable actions.

We also act as guardians of transparency, ensuring that operations are carried out with integrity and in alignment with both regulatory expectations and community interests. In this way, the legal function not only mitigates risks but also reinforces the organisation’s credibility and reputation. By aligning CSR with legal oversight, the department ensures that responsible practices are not optional, but integral to the organisation’s culture and long-term strategy.

What do you see as the major legal challenges for businesses in Bolivia over the next five years, and how are you preparing to address them?

From the perspective of the arbitration centre, one of the major legal challenges for businesses in Bolivia will be ensuring access to efficient, impartial, and specialised dispute resolution mechanisms in an increasingly complex legal and economic environment. As regulatory frameworks evolve in areas such as construction, commercial transactions, and cross-border trade, disputes are likely to become more frequent and technically demanding. At the same time, businesses will expect arbitration and alternative dispute resolution to deliver faster, more cost-effective outcomes than traditional litigation.

To address this, our strategy is focused on strengthening the institutional framework of arbitration in the country. We are investing in continuous training for arbitrators and staff, updating procedural rules to reflect international best practices, and integrating technology to streamline case administration. Additionally, we are working to enhance trust in arbitration by ensuring transparency, impartiality, and strict adherence to due process.

By reinforcing the efficiency and credibility of arbitration, we aim to help businesses in Bolivia face future challenges with greater legal certainty, contributing to a more resilient and competitive business environment.