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 Tuesday 30th September, Legal 500 returned to Dublin to launch the GC Powerlist: Ireland 2025. In partnership with Matheson, it was an honour to welcome so many leading legal practitioners from across the country to celebrate in-house counsel.
The 2025 edition of the Legal 500 GC Powerlist: Ireland recognises a stellar cohort of senior in-house counsel, highlighting the integral role that they play in today’s complex and fast-evolving legal environment. The Powerlist initiative reflects the vital, and often industry-shaping, work that in-house teams carry out on a daily basis.
Isabel Caine, Editor – Corporate Counsel, opened the evening, before handing over to Michael Jackson, Managing Partner at Mathesons, to present his final Legal 500 Powerlist: Ireland. As his time as Managing Partner draws to a close, Jackson reflected on how the in-house role has transformed over the course of his tenure. He celebrated the productive relationship between in-house and external counsel, one that remains essential as both adapt to an ever-changing legal landscape.
Miriam Nagle, Group General Counsel at AIB, then delivered the keynote address. She shared the series of events that led to her transition in-house, the steep learning curve she faced when stepping into a company as its first in-house counsel, and what legal teams should consider as they look to the future. Nagle delivered a compelling reminder that in-house teams must always stay one step ahead, whether that’s in relation to sector trends, AI or cyber challenges.
The evening concluded with networking and canapés, as attendees reconnected with friends and former colleagues and engaged in lively discussion, making for a vibrant and memorable celebration.
