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
Legal 500, in exclusive partnership with BKM | Berkemeyer, co-hosted the launch of the GC Powerlist: Paraguay 2026, on June 10, at Luna 21, located in the World Trade Center in Asunción. Marking the second edition of the publication, the event brought together leading in-house counsel from across the country to celebrate excellence within Paraguay’s corporate legal community.
The evening began with opening remarks from Francisco Castro, Research Editor at Legal 500, who recognised the achievements of this year’s honourees and reflected on key themes emerging from the research process led by fellow Editor, Allan Cohen. In particular, he noted the growing influence of in-house legal teams within core industries and their increasing involvement in strategic, business-critical decision-making – a testament to the growth of corporate legal departments in the country.
Manuel Arias, Partner at BKM | Berkemeyer, followed with his address, congratulating those featured and sharing his perspective on the development of Paraguay’s legal market. He highlighted the evolving expectations placed on legal departments and the importance of continued collaboration between private practice and in-house teams.
To conclude the speeches, Ana Garrido of Constructora Heisecke, and one of this year’s honourees, was invited to share a few words from an in-house perspective. In her remarks, she emphasised the importance of in-house lawyers developing a deep and practical understanding of their business, while also underscoring the value of collaborating with external counsel to handle highly specialised matters that may fall beyond the time or resource constraints of internal legal teams.
With more than 60 attendees, the event provided a valuable platform for connection among senior in-house lawyers, reinforcing Legal 500’s commitment to supporting and recognising this dynamic and increasingly influential community. As the role of general counsel continues to expand, their contributions remain central to the success and resilience of modern organisations.
Legal 500 extends its sincere gratitude to BKM | Berkemeyer for its continued collaboration and support in bringing this publication and event to fruition.
