About

Manfred Antonio Sáenz Montero has worked within the Costa Rican financial system for the last twenty years, either as in-house counsel and director, or being responsible for legal services units. When he joined Scotiabank in March 2007, he had the opportunity to work in the private sector with an international financial group, occupying the position of legal representative and legal advisor of the boards of brokerage company Scotia Valores, mutual fund company Scotia Fondos, and local bank Scotiabank de Costa Rica. Hired with the purpose of creating the in-house office, Sáenz has had to quickly learn the importance of maintaining the right business legal mind-set: ‘In general terms, as in-house counsel, it is very important to keep the balance between respecting the law and making business. The easy way from my point of view is don’t say no to the business, instead be creative and figure out how to say yes’, says Sáenz. With this in mind he has facilitated a number of deals over the last eleven years at Scotiabank, having the opportunity to share his philosophy of client service with his colleagues and the bank. Prior to joining, from January 1998 until March 2007 he worked as director in the legal services office of the National Bank of Costa Rica but also concurrently served as legal representative and legal advisor of the boards of brokerage company, BN Valores Puesto de Bolsa, pension fund company, BN Vital OPC and BN SAFI, a mutual fund company.