Chile 2022
Supported by the Association of Corporate Counsel
Legal manager North Latin America and Andean region | Electrolux
General counsel and corporate compliance officer | Sacyr Chile
Legal manager, data protection officer and human rights correspondant | L’Oréal Chile
General counsel Chile and compliance officer Latam | ALSTOM
Vice president associate general counsel head of legal Latin America | Everest Compañía de Seguros Generales Chile
Chief legal, sustainability and corporate affairs officer | Softys
General counsel, corporate affairs and corporate secretary | Aclara Resources
General counsel, chief compliance officer and corporate secretary | Grupo Automotores Gildemeister
Legal manager – compliance and ethics | The Adecco Group
Vice president of legal and compliance in Andes | Liberty Mutual Insurance
General counsel for Latin America and Caribbean, and regional director risk management LAC | WSP
Director of legal affairs | Empresa de Correos de Chile
General counsel | Echeverría Izquierdo Montajes Industriales
Legal and compliance manager | Grupo Bureau Veritas Chile
Human resources director | G4S Security Services Chile
Company secretary and general counsel | Coordinador Eléctrico Nacional
Legal and administration director | Minera Freeport McMoRan South America Limitada
Vice president legal, regulatory and coporate affairs | VTR Comunicaciones
Legal manager – fiscal | Fábricas y Maestranzas del Ejército
Head of legal, compliance and ethics officer | EDF Renewables Chile
Corporate legal manager | Empresa Nacional del Petróleo
Senior corporate and real estate lawyer | Gibraltar Group
Vice president, corporate affairs and sustainability | WOM Chile
General counsel and secretary of the board | ENEL Chile and Enel Americas
Head of legal and compliance Chile, Perú and Ecuador | Boehringer Ingelheim
In-house lawyer, fiscal | Sociedad Concesionaria Vespucio Norte Express
Associate general counsel and head of Latin America legal organisation | TATA Consultancy Services
The Legal 500 has been analysing the capabilities of law firms around the world for 35 years. Over the course of the last decade, we have expanded our legal analysis to include corporate counsel–again on a global scale–as reflected in our GC Powerlist series, which identifies the leading corporate counsel in more than 150 jurisdictions.
As lead researcher for The Legal 500’s Chile GC Powerlist 2022, it is my pleasure to introduce this extensive edition of the GC Powerlist series. Rarely have we conducted so many interviews with the leading in-house legal minds of a country while investigating; it was a privilege to be able to speak with the lawyers contained within these pages about opportunities and challenges they face now and in the future. Some examples of these enervating discussions are below.
In common with their contemporaries around the world, Chile-based GCs have endured a highly uncertain past two years. As Alberto Vergara, director of litigation at Scotiabank Chile reflects, ‘the Covid-19 pandemic made the changes and challenges that we were already facing even more dramatic, urgent, and exponential. Legal counsel, especially in-house ones, had to adopt overnight ways of working that we previously would have considered counterintuitive’. He views the agility that he and his in-house legal colleagues showed in adapting to the pandemic’s new requirements in order to continue effectively serving their organisations as a point of pride: ‘We as legal counsel were crucial in order to provide the legal advice required to adapt to the new circumstances, putting aside our established wisdom and old ways of working. We should be proud of the outcome.’
Anastassia Fagetti Arenas, legal manager, data protection officer and human rights correspondent for L’Oreal Chile summed up the huge value that top-quality in-house counsel can give to an organisation, with a fitting tribute to her contemporaries: ‘With our ability to anticipate changes in an increasingly volatile, complex, uncertain and ambiguous world, having a position in legal matters allows us to evaluate the most suitable solutions proactively and take a more active role in the face of different changes or challenges. This ability to accelerate our legal vision allows us to protect the organisation’s reputation and ourselves against possible impacts on the company, our stakeholders, and shareholders.’
I am extremely pleased to present this list of the most successful, agile and innovative in-house lawyers in Chile.
Yoonsong Choi | Lead Research Analyst | GC Powerlist Chile 2022
The Legal 500 has kindly invited Carey to host the fourth edition of the GC Powerlist Chile, which recognises the most influential and innovative general counsel of Chile. In order to identify the top general counsel in the country, The Legal 500 conducted independent research, which includes in-depth consultations with important members of the Chilean legal community, with a particular emphasis on those general counsel that promote effective team collaboration.
Carey warmly congratulates those who have been recognised, including those with whom we have shared professional experiences that have enabled us to appreciate first hand their leadership and effectiveness.
Although Chile is experiencing tumultuous times, including the drafting of a new constitution which will be approved or rejected through a referendum in September, the legal community in Chile widely believes that our democratic traditions, our solid institutions, a general absence of corruption and a respect for the rule of law will ultimately allow our country to continue prospering and maintain its position as one of the leading nations in Latin America.
Carey reiterates its belief that the general counsel recognised by The Legal 500 have played, and will continue to play, an important role in maintaining Chile’s high ethical and political standards. We view them as legal lighthouses which guide the corporations they serve, preventing them from making decisions that might lead them to dangerous waters. As Chile’s largest law firm, Carey, of course, shares this task.
We also share many of the same values and beliefs with this group of prestigious general counsels. Building a strong and positive culture in a law firm is not an easy task and requires continual work and reflection. We at Carey appreciate the leadership and inspiration that the lawyers recognised by The Legal 500 this year provide to the entire legal community.
Thank you to The Legal 500 for this invitation and, once again, congratulations to the general counsel selected for their outstanding work.
Jorge Carey | Chairman | Carey
On 26 March, Legal 500 partnered with Portuguese law firm PLMJ to bring its renewed sustainability‑focused conference series to Lisbon with the ESG Forum: Portugal 2026. The half‑day event gathered senior leaders from the legal, financial, energy and sustainability spheres for a concentrated programme hosted at PLMJ’s offices. Throughout the sessions, speakers explored the regulatory, governance and enforcement forces reshaping ESG strategy in Portugal, offering a clear cross‑sector perspective on how organisations are adapting to an increasingly complex and fast‑moving landscape.
The event opened with some welcome remarks from Legal 500 editor Francisco Castro, who emphasised the value of events that bring the in‑house community together to learn, exchange experiences and build meaningful professional networks. In his welcome address, he highlighted the growing complexity of ESG obligations across Europe and the increasing pressure on organisations to adopt integrated, business‑wide approaches to compliance, risk management and strategic planning. By underscoring the need for practical, grounded discussion rather than abstract theory, he set the tone for a programme designed to deliver actionable insight and foster collaboration among practitioners navigating a rapidly evolving ESG landscape.
Followed an opening brief delivered by PLMJ’s Managing Partner, Bruno Ferreira, who provided a concise yet comprehensive overview of the ESG priorities defining Portugal in 2026. He outlined the expanding influence of EU regulatory frameworks on corporate reporting, due diligence and governance, noting how these requirements are reshaping expectations around data quality, transparency and accountability. His remarks positioned ESG not as a peripheral concern but as a central driver of corporate behaviour, capital flows and long‑term competitiveness in the Portuguese market.
The first panel, moderated by João Marques Mendes, Partner at PLMJ and joined by Cláudia Teixeira de Almeida of Banco BPI, Nuno Moraes Bastos of GALP and Diogo Graça of REN, explored how corporate governance and sustainable finance are shaping Portugal’s energy transition. The discussion examined how boards and executive teams are adapting oversight structures to manage transition‑related risks and how legal, compliance, sustainability and procurement functions are increasingly intertwined in project governance. Panellists described the growing influence of financing structures on project execution, noting that lenders’ expectations around ESG metrics, contractor performance and transparency now shape governance decisions from the earliest stages. They also addressed the operational constraints that continue to challenge Portugal’s transition ambitions, including permitting timelines, grid capacity limitations and delivery risk. While acknowledging the complexity of EU‑level frameworks, speakers emphasised that these standards also present strategic opportunities to harmonise practices, unlock investment and strengthen Portugal’s competitive position in the energy transition.
Following a short break, the second panel turned to litigation, liability and the emerging enforcement era surrounding sustainability claims. Moderated by Raquel Azevedo, Partner at PLMJ and featuring contributions from Carla Góis Coelho of PLMJ, Carlos Martins Ferreira of Jerónimo Martins, Filipa Rodrigues Carmona of Caixa Geral de Depósitos and Céline da Graça Pires of NOVA, the session examined the rapid rise of ESG‑driven disputes, investigations and regulatory actions. Panellists discussed the typical trigger points for scrutiny, ranging from sustainability reports and corporate websites to marketing materials and investor presentations, and highlighted how these touchpoints are increasingly tested by regulators, competitors, consumers and NGOs. They analysed recent case law developments and their implications for Portuguese organisations, noting the emergence of more stringent evidentiary standards around disclosures and due‑diligence obligations. The panel concluded that sustainability claims can no longer be treated as aspirational messaging; they now carry the weight of binding legal obligations, requiring more rigorous internal validation and cross‑functional coordination.
The forum concluded with closing remarks from Francisco Castro, after which attendees were invited to continue their conversations over a light lunch, providing a relaxed setting to deepen connections and reflect on the themes explored throughout the morning.
Legal 500 extends its thanks to PLMJ for its collaboration in bringing this conference format to Portugal’s in‑house legal community. The team looks forward to returning soon for the launch event of this year’s GC Powerlist: Portugal.
