Career Biography Karen Novoa is a strategic and visionary legal leader who has redefined the legal function,
transforming it from a risk control center into an essential business partner. Her career is
characterized by a successful and dynamic transition, from establishing robust legal
frameworks in the multinational retail sector to driving innovation and revenue growth in the
high-dynamism tech sector. Karen is an expert at the critical intersection of Complex
Commercial Agreements, and Corporate Compliance, skills she directly applies to ensure
strategic expansion and commercial viability. Her leadership capability is evident in the
creation of full-scope legal departments in fast-growing environments such as Cornershop
by Uber and Sephora Mexico. In these roles, Karen served as the central point of contact for
executive management and authorities, assuming legal responsibility in key regions like
Mexico and Costa Rica. Her management was fundamental to Sephora’s retail expansion,
handling the legal framework, license acquisition, and administrative processing for new
stores, demonstrating a unique ability to turn regulatory challenges into growth opportunities.
Karen’s Professional Growth is a testament to her adaptability and vision. Currently, as Legal
Counsel, Product and Commercial at Uber, she applies sophisticated negotiation expertise
to secure complex commercial agreements. This work is crucial, as it directly contributes to
revenue generation and compliance protection from the concept phase through product
launch. Her cross-functional collaboration with development teams ensures that innovation
remains within regulatory boundaries, proactively mitigating risks. Karen has developed and
implemented proactive legal strategies essential for thriving in highly regulated sectors
(e-commerce, logistics, retail). Her experience encompasses managing local and federal
authority requirements in high-risk areas, including data privacy, consumer rights, and
advertising. This ability to provide timely and actionable advice to executive management
positions her as an essential lawyer whose legal vision not only protects the company but
drives it forward