Colombia 2025
Supported by the Association of Corporate Counsel
Legal director and general counsel | Ocensa - Oleoducto Central
Legal lead Colombia – Contracting counsel senior manager | Accenture
Head of legal, compliance, corporate social responsibility, and government relations | Mazda Colombia
Legal director Colombia and Costa Rica | Rappi
Senior legal director Latin America North, Central America and the Caribbean | Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine Latinoamérica
Vicepresident of corporate affairs | Organización Carvajal
Co-CEO and vice president of legal and corporate affairs | Sanford Management
Arbitration counsel | Agencia Nacional de Infraestructura (ANI)
Legal director and company secretary | CARACOL PRIMERA CADENA RADIAL COLOMBIANA
Deputy general counsel and head of legal Latin America | McKinsey & Company
Head of Law, Patents and Compliance Andean, Caribbean and Central America | Bayer Colombia
Head of Legal Colombia & Ecuador | Hitachi Energy
Head of Legal Colombia & Peru – executive director | Banco J.P. Morgan Colombia
Senior litigation counsel (ACAC-Central America, Andean, Caribbean) | Uber
Legal director Colombia & Venezuela | Pepsico Alimentos Colombia
Vice president of legal affairs and general secretary | Scotiabank Colpatria
Legal Manager for Colombia and LSP (Cluster Chile, Perú and Ecuador) | GlaxoSmithKline
Chief legal officer and general counsel | Avianca
Legal director-private sector | Banco de Desarrollo de America Latina CAF
General counsel beauty and wellbeing– Head of legal Andean region | Unilever
Senior Legal and Compliance Director America, Andean Countries, Chile and Venezuela | Mondelēz International
Legal vice president | Steward Health Care International Colombia
Corporate and legal counsel | Avaya Communication de Colombia
Head of Legal Department Colombia, Perú, LatAm Export Markets, Panamá Operations, Americas HUB | Haleon
Vice President of Hydrocarbon Contracts | Agencia Nacional de Hidrocarburos
Corporate legal department | National Oilwell Varco de Colombia
Chief Counsel of Private Sector/Non-Sovereign Operations, Legal Affairs | Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF)
It is with great enthusiasm that The Legal 500 presents the 2025 edition of the GC Powerlist: Colombia, our annual celebration of the country’s most impressive and influential in-house legal talent.
This year’s list recognises the exceptional contributions of general counsel and senior in-house lawyers who are not only legal experts but also critical drivers of strategic growth, innovation, and resilience within their organisations. In a landscape defined by both opportunity and uncertainty, these professionals continue to rise to the occasion—guiding their companies through regulatory upheaval, digital transformation, ESG commitments, and evolving corporate risks.
The individuals featured in this edition exemplify the dynamic role of modern in-house counsel. They serve as trusted advisers, crisis managers, and business enablers—constantly adapting their approach to meet the growing complexity of doing business in Colombia and beyond. Whether leading compliance reforms, negotiating sophisticated deals, or embedding sustainability into corporate governance, these legal leaders are shaping the future of their sectors.
This year’s Powerlist offers an in-depth look at their work and insights, through exclusive interviews and profiles that highlight both professional achievements and personal philosophies. From oil and energy to tech, finance, and infrastructure, the legal minds showcased here are transforming how legal departments contribute to strategic decision-making and long-term value creation.
A recurring theme in our conversations was the increasing alignment between legal functions and executive leadership. As one GC told us, “Being a legal leader today means more than mastering the law—it means having a seat at the table where key business decisions are made, and ensuring that the legal voice is both proactive and solutions-driven.”
We also heard compelling stories about how legal teams are leading the charge on ESG implementation, risk mitigation, and diversity and inclusion. Across sectors, GCs are embedding ethical considerations into contracts, supply chains, and company culture—demonstrating that legal departments are not only guardians of compliance, but also champions of responsible business.
We are deeply grateful to all the participants who generously shared their perspectives, experiences, and challenges with us. Their voices reflect a profession in motion—evolving to meet the demands of the present while shaping the values of the future.
It is our privilege to recognise and celebrate the achievements of Colombia’s top in-house counsel. We hope this publication inspires legal professionals across the region and beyond, and reaffirms the vital importance of the in-house legal role in building resilient, forward-thinking businesses.
Congratulations to all those featured in the GC Powerlist: Colombia 2025.
Margherita Birri
Research Editor
The Legal 500
On 26 February, Legal 500 returned to Lagos to launch the latest edition of the GC Powerlist: Nigeria, hosted at the exclusive Metropolitan Club and attended by more than 100 senior in‑house lawyers from across the country. The evening brought together many of Nigeria’s most influential corporate counsel for a programme that blended recognition, thought leadership and high‑level networking in a setting that reflected the prestige of the series. Honourees were celebrated for the impact they have made within their organisations, their contributions to the wider legal ecosystem and their ability to drive innovation and strategic value across sectors ranging from finance and energy to technology and consumer markets.
The event opened with remarks from David Freeman, Global Business Development Manager at Legal 500, who spoke about the significance of the GC Powerlist in Nigeria and the evolving role of in‑house counsel as strategic leaders. He highlighted the growing influence of general counsel in shaping governance, regulatory engagement and business transformation, setting a purposeful tone for the evening.
The programme continued with insights from two distinguished speakers. Adedoyin Afun, Partner at Bloomfield, offered a forward‑looking analysis of Nigeria’s regulatory and transactional landscape, noting the increasing pressures and opportunities facing in‑house teams as they navigate compliance shifts, cross‑border transactions and the expectation to operate as commercial partners. He was followed by keynote speaker Angela Omo‑Dare, retired General Counsel of Stanbic IBTC Group, whose reflective address on leadership, ethics and the long‑term development of legal teams resonated strongly with the audience. Drawing on her extensive career, she underscored the GC’s role as an ethical steward, culture‑shaper and trusted adviser to senior leadership.
After the formal proceedings, guests enjoyed dinner and continued discussions on emerging trends shaping the Nigerian legal landscape, from regulatory reform and investment flows to legal operations and talent development. The atmosphere remained warm and engaged throughout, reinforcing the sense of community that has become synonymous with the GC Powerlist.
Overall, the GC Powerlist: Nigeria 2026 launch event ultimately reaffirmed Legal 500’s commitment to celebrating and elevating the work of general counsel in one of Africa’s most dynamic markets. With its combination of high‑calibre speakers, strong industry representation and meaningful recognition, the event stood out as a defining moment in the 2026 calendar and further strengthened the platform’s role as a convening force for leadership and professional excellence within Nigeria’s in‑house legal community.
Legal 500 extends its sincere thanks to Bloomfield Law for its invaluable support of this year’s publication.
