Central America 2022 – GC Powerlist
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Central America 2022

  • Industries

  • Powerlist

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Adrian Cortés

Legal counsel and compliance officer | Samsung

Information technology

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Alejandra Bogantes

Legal manager, Costa Rica and El Salvador | Walmart (Corporación de Supermercados Unidos, SRL)

Consumer products

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Alejandra Castro

Head of legal, patents and compliance | Bayer

Healthcare

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Alejandro Royo

Senior legal counsel- Americas | Tetrapack

Consumer products

Alfonso Videche

Regional legal director, Central America | Colgate-Palmolive

Consumer products

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Ana Carolina Alcalá Wilson

Legal and corporate manager North Latin America operations | Kimberly-Clark

Consumer products

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Ana Elena Castillo Chaves

General counsel, Central America, Panama and Dominican Republic | EY

Commercial and professional services

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Ana Lorena Lopez

Senior legal counsel | SAP

Information technology

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Annete Ward

Legal director Caribbean and Central America | Diageo

Food

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Barbara Alexandra Martinez Ferro

Senior legal counsel LADMAR - Panama | Procter & Gamble

Consumer products

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Carlos Andrés Jiménez Rojas

Legal counsel | Liberty Latin America

Telecommunication services

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Carmen Madriz

Regional general counsel | Elementia

Industrials and real estate

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Chanthel Mendizabal

Chief legal officer | Mcdonalds Mesoamerica

Food

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Claudia Prado Suárez

Legal manager | Mercon Coffee Group

Consumer products

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Claudia Tomasino de Crespo

Legal manager | Distribuidora de Electricidad del Sur (DELSUR)

Energy and utilities

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Cristina Alfaro

general counsel | Citibank

Financials

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Daniel Muñoz Jiménez

Regional general counsel Mexico and Central America | Enel Green Power

Energy and utilities

Daniel Pérez-Umaña

Chief legal officer, general counsel and corporate secretary | BAC Credomatic

Financials

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Daniela Guzman

Legal Manager | LifeMiles

Transport and infrastructure

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Diana Marín

General counsel | TIGO

Telecommunication services

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Edgar Fajardo

General counsel Central America | Nestle

Consumer products

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Edgar Solís

General counsel | grupo roble

Consumer products

Elizabeth Mena

Vice president legal and corporate affairs | Corporación Minera Dominicana

Materials and mining

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Emmanuel Barrantes

General counsel | CMI/Proave

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Ernesto Alfonso Carrasco Castro

Vicepresidente juridico | Grupo Financiero Ficohsa

Financials

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Gabriel Tapia Calviño

Regional strategic business partner for general medicines business unit COPAC and territorial legal head for Central America and The Caribbean | Sanofi

Healthcare

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Gabriela Esciu Font

General counsel | Coca-Cola Los Volcanes

Food

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Giovanni Muñoz Jiménez

Chief legal officer | Aeris Holding Costa Rica

Transport and infrastructure

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Giuliana Alvarado

Gerente regional litigios fiscales | Walmart

Consumer products

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Ilse Moreno

Legal director Central America, Carribbean, Argentina and Uruguay | JCDecaux

Commercial and professional services

Ingrid Valdés Vásquez

Senior legal manager | Fresenius Medical Care Panama

Healthcare

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Ivannia Montero

Head of legal affairs and compliance | Holcim

Materials and mining

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Ivette Hernandez

Latin America legal counsel | Sylvania

Consumer products

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Jacobo Alter

Director, corporate counsel | Edwards LifeSciences

Healthcare

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Javier Madrigal

Legal business partner PACA consumer health Andean | Bayer

Healthcare

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Jennifer M. Gonzalez

Head of legal Latin America | Evolution

Information technology

Jenniffer Salazar Ramírez

Chief Legal Officer | Claro CR Telecomunicaciones

Telecommunication services

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Jorge Eduardo Moreno Peña

Senior legal counsel, Middle Americas zone | Elanco

Healthcare

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Jorge Romo

Legal head CANDEAN | Novartis

Healthcare

José Barría

General counsel, Central America and Caribbean | Suez

Energy and utilities

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Jose Carlos Quesada

Latin America regional legal affairs manager | Sitel Group

Commercial and professional services

Jose David Zùñiga Vega

General counsel and compliance officer | Cuestamoras Salud

Healthcare

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Jose Polanco

Global director of compliance | PAE

Commercial and professional services

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José Ricardo Sánchez Escobar

Director legal y gobierno corporativo, representante legal laboral y administrativo | Banco Davivienda Salvadoreño

Financials

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Juan Carlos Rojas

Legal and external affairs director and general counsel | Dole fresh fruit international

Food

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Juan Ignacio Zamora

Legal compliance head and compliance officer | Roche

Healthcare

Juan Sebastian Crespo

Director health care and global antitrust | Procter & Gamble

Consumer products

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Julia Núñez de González

General counsel | Empresas ADOC

Consumer products

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Julio Reyes

Regional legal liaison | Grupo Promerica

Financials

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Karen Torres

Regional counsel Central America | PriceSmart

Consumer products

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Karin Herman Zachrisson

Director and general counsel | Citi Guatemala

Financials

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Katherine Romero

Regional legal counsel | HP

Information technology

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Kevin Andres Herrera Fernandez

Legal counsel Guatemala, Central America | Equifax

Financials

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Leonora Granados

Legal counsel LAC- South America | OikoCredit

Financials

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Ligia Gonzalez

Senior attorney | Cargill

Industrials and real estate

Luis Enrique Gómez-Portuguez

Director regional servicios legales y secretario corporativo | Scotiabank

Financials

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Luis Pedro Valladares

Gerente de asuntos jurídicos corporativos | LivSmart

Consumer products

Marcela Bernal

General counsel, senior vice president | Citibank El Salvador

Financials

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Marcela Mendez

Legal counsel Central America and The Carribbean | The Coca Cola Company

Consumer products

María Cristina Vilá de Van Hoorde

Legal vice-president and corporate secretary | Banistmo

Financials

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María Fernanda Esquivel Rodríguez

Business partner legal, CMI | Corporación Multi Inversiones

Commercial and professional services

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Maria José Reguero

General counsel Central America | Vitali Alimentos

Consumer products

Maricel Alvarez Chavarría

Legal and corporate affairs manager CAM SUR (Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Panamá) | Coca-Cola FEMSA

Food

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Marie Claire  Palacios de Bauer

Compliance officer and legal officer | Centro Distribuidor (CENDIS)

Healthcare

Mariel Picado Quevedo

Legal director | Florida Ice & Farm Company (FIFCO)

Food

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Marietta Herrera Cantillo

Directora jurídica | Banco Nacional de Costa Rica

Financials

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Mauricio Garita Campos

Legal and corporate affairs manager | Enel Green Power

Energy and utilities

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Melania Calzada

Senior counsel Central America and Carribbean | Mondelēz International

Food

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Melania Campos Lara

Legal director | Grupo de Garnier

Commercial and professional services

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Michael Bruce

Legal director | Procter & Gamble

Consumer products

Michelle Alexandra Canelo

Managing assistant general counsel Latin America Central America Region, Colombia, Peru and Ecuador | Cargill

Industrials and real estate

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Mónica Alvarez

Corporate legal counsel | Premium Restaurants of America (Mexico and Central America)

Food

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Monica Polanco

Senior corporate counsel | Cognizant

Information technology

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Natalia Gaspar

Senior counsel Central America | Philip Morris International

Food

Olger Méndez Rojas

Abogado del departamento legal | Refinadora Costarricense de Petróleo

Materials and mining

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Orlando Zuniga

Legal head manager | Banco Industrial El Salvador

Financials

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Oscar Montes

Executive vice president legal, general counsel, chief compliance officer and corporate secretary | Integra Capital Group

Financials

Ricardo Estrada M.

Head of legal department, BSC & Latin America export markets | GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare

Healthcare

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Ricardo Hernández López

Director de asesoria legal | Bolsa Nacional de Valores de Costa Rica

Financials

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Ricardo Leon Retana

Director of the legal department | Lifemiles

Transport and infrastructure

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Roberto Bonilla

Chief strategy officer | Elaniin

Information technology

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Roberto Ramos Chacon

Legal counsel | Smith & Nephew

Healthcare

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Rocío Montes de Oca

Jefe asesoría corporativa y litigios | Banco Davivienda

Financials

Rodrigo Cárdenas

Group general counsel | Universidad Latina Group

Administrative bodies

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Rodrigo Cavinato Herrera

Legal and compliance manager | Kuehne + Nagel

Industrials and real estate

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Ronald Ramírez Acuña

 Legal lead for North Latina America (Central America, Mexico, Caribbean and Venezuela) | Hewlett Packard Enterprise

Information technology

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Rosa María Jiménez

Country legal counsel | Everty

Industrials and real estate

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Roxana Sanchez

Corporate affairs and legal director | Tigo

Telecommunication services

Sebastian Wong

General counsel – 3M Central America & Caribbean | 3M

Industrials and real estate

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Silvia Amador

legal director | Dos Pinos

Consumer products

Silvia Arce López

Legal and compliance director CLAT | Novo Nordisk

Healthcare

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Stephanie Montoya

Senior legal counsel Central America, Legal counsel Unilever Intl. Latam and North America | Unilever Central America

Consumer products

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Tania Belloso

Legal BP corporate law and country platform PACA( Paises Andinos y Centroamérica y Caribe) | Bayer

Healthcare

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Tannia Corriols

Vice president and head of legal DHL global forwarding Latin America | DHL

Transport and infrastructure

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Tony Roldan

Vice president legal- Latin America | Dell

Information technology

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Valentina Moreno Aristeguieta

Legal director ACAC (Central America, Panama and The Caribbean and Andean region) | Uber

Transport and infrastructure

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Verónica Vaquedano Barahona

Asesor legal | Gildan

Consumer products

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Victor Murillo

Regional corporate legal manager | Accenture

Commercial and professional services

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Viviana Montero

Global partner compliance manager | VM ware

Information technology

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Yeira Sandoval S.

Legal counsel Guatemala, Central America | CEMEX

Industrials and real estate

The Legal 500 GC Powerlist: Central America 2022 captures the theme of team spirit, adaptation, and growth among the leading legal counsel across all industries in Central America. It was an utter delight to speak with the remarkable and resilient general counsel in Central America. Among the general counsel who were interviewed for this edition, there was a consensus that the legal profession in Central America had grown to encompass more than just a siloed legal department; but had successfully transitioned into business strategists too.

Many of the esteemed counsel shared significant milestones they had experienced in their careers and substantial obstacles they led their companies through; some of which were a persistent global supply chain crisis which has skyrocketed the prices of commodities; the global pandemic which expedited a move towards digitalisation and achieving a healthy work/life balance for themselves and their teams. One general counsel described the state of play all over Central America as an environment of ‘commodity price increases, capacity and materials supply shortages, port congestion, inflation freight rates, among others, represent challenging factors to the operation of the business in a new normal era.’

Nonetheless, counsel in Central America are determined to be innovators, partnering with their respective organisations to foster an environment which breeds longevity and vigour. In the midst of this transforming ecosystem, businesses based all over Central America can be rest assured that their legal departments are led by outstanding general counsel who are focused on, ‘developing a risk map that allows the company to mitigate significant risks while pursuing innovation and embracing new business models.’

Central America is characterised by a distinct history of rapid sustained growth, tourism and an expansive export portfolio. To match, private companies are also committed to the economic growth of their companies and looking to connect this growth to make impact on a larger scale. Countries in Central America have also experienced much political change recently, as well as consistent shifts to its regulatory landscape. However, general counsel in this edition gladly report on their dedication to driving the success of their companies through this transformative time. There is much focus now on digitalisation of process, due to the introduction of remote working as well as a revisit to contractual documentation and internal policies, due to the pandemic.

I would like to congratulate once again the brilliant, innovative leading in-house counsel of Central America who were a pleasure to speak with for the Legal 500: Central America 2022!

Melissa Yebisi
Research analyst:
GC Powerlist Series

Arias

Arias logo

We feel honoured and rejoiced supporting this event. Congratulations on being listed in the most prestigious list of general counsels (GCs) in the region and being among the key players globally leading into new trails in the legal marketplace, especially during the last couple of years, in the middle of a pandemic, with no precedence, it is a testament to your leadership. We praise your extraordinary work and invaluable responsibility to propel the legal profession and we, likewise, want to praise your accomplishments. It is a delight for Arias to have the privilege to sponsor this activity and to be able to do it again, after two years of uncertainty.

Because of your diligent and outstanding work, our economies have been able to thrive. It has not been an easy job, the role of  general counsel (GC) over the crisis, complex and new regulation, technological advancements, and new challenges, make you the motor of our industry. We acknowledge that all of you now bring more to the table than just your legal expertise and act as strategic legal and business advisers to the chief executive and executive leadership teams. All of you represent the greatness that arises from individuals operating together for a grander purpose.

We feel grateful to say, as many times as necessary that we are the Central American law firm that makes things happen, with presence in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama. We are celebrating 80 years this 2022 since we started operations in El Salvador, and since the 90’s growing throughout the region in a constant and non-stoppable way.

We feel passionate of our profession, we relate and feel close to the vision and aspirations of your companies and goals. As you do, we also seek for better and more efficient and innovative solutions for your legal matters.

Cheers to all of you! We encourage to push us to be better, every day, to make our environments safer, to address and reinforce awareness on employment equality and gender diversity and inclusion in the workplace, support the role of women in leadership positions, and environmental matters into the priority list short-term, to survive long-term in an ever changing business environment.

GC Powerlist: Central America 2022

After a three-year break, The Legal 500 was back in San Jose to host the inaugural GC Powerlist: Central America, sponsored by Arias.  The celebration took place at the Hilton in San Jose, overlooking the beautiful Costa Rica National Stadium.

As well as the celebrations taking place, we delved into a topical panel discussion on ESG involving   Roberto Cordero (Leader of Arias’ ESG practice, Alejandra Bogates from Walmart and Emmanuel Barrabtes from CMI)

A huge thank you to Arias, for their long term support of The GC Powerlist: Central America.

Congratulations to all the leading GCs recognised, we are looking forward to next year in Panama!