Central America 2026
Supported by the Association of Corporate Counsel
Senior Director, Legal and Regulatory | Cable & Wireless Panama
Legal and government affairs manager Central America and Dominican Republic | AVON
Senior Legal Director Central American Markets | Colgate-Palmolive
Legal Lead for NA Media and Digital Portfolios and Guatemala Team Lead | Capgemini
Legal Director for Mexico and CASA (Central and South America) | Elanco
General Counsel | INCAE Business School
Legal, Compliand and Risk Director | Securitas Costa Rica
Legal and Compliance Officer | Nicaragua Energy Services
Legal Director & DPO for Central America & The Caribbean | ADIUM Central America & The Caribbean
Legal Regional Senior Manager Tax Controversy | Walmart de México y Centroamérica
General Counsel, Director | China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) Americas Division and Consorcio Panama Cuarto Puente (CPCP)
Director of Legal, Ethics and Compliance | SUEZ International
Regional Legal Director TT and Compliance Officer, LATAM | Foundever
General Counsel and Corporate Governance Officer | Banco Promerica Guatemela
Senior Director, International Legal Affairs | SBA Communications Corporation
Vicepresident, Legal and Compliance | Banco Agromercantil Guatemala
Head of Legal and Compliance and Data Privacy Officer for Central America, the Caribbean, and Venezuela (CCAV) | Roche Pharma
Senior Legal Counsel (manager of Legal/Compliance Department and Tenders Department) | Boston Scientific
Vicepresident Legal | Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior
Legal Director, Corporate Secretary and Deputy CEO | Davibank (Costa Rica)
General counsel, senior vice president | Citibank, El Salvador
Legal Counsel / Legal Business Partner for Central America & The Caribbean | ADIUM Central America & The Caribbean
Latin America Area Business Counsel | 3M Transportation & Electronics Business Group
Legal and Regulatory Manager | MRO HOLDINGS
Regional Director of Legal Affairs | Torrecom Partners
Senior Legal Counsel for Central America, Caribbean and LATAM Development Markets | Procter & Gamble
Regional General Counsel Mexico and Central America | Enel Green Power
General Counsel or Chief Legal Officer | Grupo Salinas Guatemala
Legal, Corporate Affairs and Wholesale Business Director | Movistar El Salvador
Legal Director, Legal-regulatory control and corporate secretary | Banco Davivienda
Senior Legal Manager - Central America & The Caribbean (VeneCenCa) | Janssen-Cilag Farmacêutica
Central America, The Caribbean, Argentina, Uruguay Regional Legal Affairs Director | JCDecaux
Legal Director, Energy | CMI-Corporación Multi Inversiones
EVP Legal, General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer & Corporate Secretary | Integra Capital Group
Central America is not standing still—and neither are its general counsel.
The GC Powerlist Central America 2026 recognises a group of in-house leaders operating at the sharp edge of transformation. Across the region, businesses are expanding, restructuring, digitising, and navigating increasingly complex regulatory and geopolitical environments. At the centre of it all sits Legal—not as a gatekeeper, but as a driver of progress.
What became clear throughout our research is that today’s standout GCs are deeply embedded in the business. They are helping to unlock growth, not just protect against risk. Whether advising on cross-border expansion, enabling new products, managing large-scale disputes, or shaping digital and AI strategies, they are influencing decisions at the highest level—and doing so with clarity, speed, and commercial awareness.
There is also a noticeable shift in mindset. Legal teams are building systems, not just solutions. They are investing in data, dashboards, and governance frameworks that allow organisations to move faster and with greater confidence. At the same time, they are fostering trust—translating complexity into action, and ensuring that innovation happens responsibly.
Perhaps most importantly, these lawyers understand their role as enablers. In a region where volatility is often part of the operating environment, they provide stability without slowing momentum. They work across functions, across borders, and often behind the scenes—making things happen without needing to be in the spotlight.
This year’s Powerlist is a reflection of that evolution. It celebrates lawyers who are not only keeping up with change, but actively shaping it.
Congratulations to all those featured.
Margherita Birri
Research Editor
The Legal 500
On 9 June, Legal 500 hosted the launch of the GC Powerlist: Brazil 2026 at the Grand Hyatt in São Paulo, once again in exclusive partnership with Cescon Barrieu – marking the fourth consecutive year of collaboration with our longstanding key partner in the country. This flagship publication celebrates the most accomplished and influential in-house lawyers in Brazil, bringing together leading corporate legal professionals to recognise their outstanding achievements.
The evening opened with remarks from Francisco Castro, Research Editor at Legal 500 and editorial lead behind the publication. He highlighted the exceptional accomplishments of this year’s honourees and shared key insights drawn from the research and submissions process, including the prominence of certain industries, the continued expansion of in-house roles into executive and strategic functions, and the growing diversity, particularly the increasing presence of women in legal leadership positions.
This was followed by remarks from Alexandre Barreto, Managing Partner at Cescon Barrieu, who congratulated the featured general counsel and reflected on the ongoing evolution of Brazil’s legal and business sectors. He underscored the importance of recognising the in-house legal community and noted how the firm continues to adapt to the shifting demands of both clients and the wider business landscape.
With over 100 guests in attendance, including many of Brazil’s leading corporate legal professionals, the event once again demonstrated Legal 500 and Cescon Barrieu’s shared commitment to championing the country’s in-house legal talent.
Legal 500 extends its sincere thanks to Cescon Barrieu for their continued partnership, now in its fourth consecutive year. We are also pleased to announce our return to Brazil later this year with the GC Summit Premier, our new flagship platform for in-house counsel to exchange ideas, strengthen networks, and explore the key legal challenges shaping today’s business environment.
