Panama Canal Authority

The general counsel office of the Panama Canal Authority provides full legal support to the operation, administration, conservation, maintenance, improvement and modernisation of the canal. Between 2009 and 2016 the team of five worked exclusively on handling all legal matters related to the Panama Canal expansion project, one of the most significant constructional undertakings in Central America in recent years. The team supported the organisation by working on almost 600 contracts that comprised the program and managed a variety of complex, multidimensional legal tasks. Under the leadership of Agenor Correa, a skilful legal manager, who featured in 2016’s GC Powerlist: Central America, the team boasts a pragmatic approach to managing legal issues internally with a strong focus on business needs that has resulted in a change in perception of the function from that of an obstacle to an ally. Currently, the team supports an array of regular investment construction projects and is involved with the canal’s diversification strategy program for the development of ports and logistics projects.