Dominican Republic
Supported by the Association of Corporate Counsel
General counsel | KPMG Dominicana
Legal and compliance officer | E.T. Heinsen
Legal and compliance director | Primma Valores, Puesto de Bolsa
Vice president of legal and governmental affairs | AES Dominicana
Vice president of business and legal affairs | Lantica Studios
Director of strategic planning | Dominican Institute of Telecommunications (INDOTEL)
General counsel, legal and governance | Banesco Banco Múltiple
Assistant general counsel, legal operations | Phoenix Tower International
Compliance and corporate governance director | Seguros Crecer y AFP Crecer
General counsel and vice president of legal affairs | Playa Grande Holdings
Senior manager of regulation | Asociacion de Bancos Multiples de la Republica Dominicana
Legal manager | Banco Promerica de la República Dominicana
Legal and compliance director | Banco Atlántico de Ahorro y Crédito
Director of legal and regulatory affairs | Grupo Vimenca
Legal director | Tesoreria de la Seguridad Social (TSS)
Legal manager | Consorcio Energético Punta Cana-Macao (CEPM)
Head of legal and regulatory compliance division | Fiduciaria Popular
Second vice president and director of legal advisory and AML/CFT compliance | MAPFRE Dominicana
Legal senior manager | Consorcio de Tarjetas Dominicanas (CardNET)
Head of legal documentation | Ministry of Finance of Dominican Republic
Legal director | Compañia Dominicana de Teléfonos (Claro)
Legal and regulatory affairs coordinator | Wind Telecom
Legal manager | Consejo Unificado de las Empresas Distribuidoras de Electricidad
Legal, regulatory and AML compliance director | PARVAL Puesto de Bolsa
Director of coordination and monitoring of reform processes | Ministry of Public Administration (MAP) of Dominican Republic
Vice president, general counsel - Latin America | Phoenix Tower International
Legal manager | Banco Múltiple Promerica de la Republica Dominicana
Legal director | Corporación Dominicana de Empresas Electricas Estatales (CDEEE)
Vice president of legal affairs and regulatory compliance | Banco Múltiple Santa Cruz
Legal and compliance manager | United Capital Puesto de Bolsa
Head of legal | Empresa de Generación Eléctrica Punta Catalina (EGEPC)
On Tuesday 16th September 2025, Legal 500 returned to Zürich to host the Diversity and Inclusion Forum: Switzerland, in partnership with Schellenberg Wittmer. The event consisted of insightful discussion, focusing on what diversity and inclusion mean in today’s world and how in-house counsel can put these principles into practice. The forum took place at the historic Zunfthaus zur Meisen – notably, the first guild to admit women as members, as was highlighted during the evening.
The evening began with a welcome address from Isabel Caine, Event Content Editor at Legal 500, who spoke to the continued importance of spotlighting diversity and inclusion in the current geopolitical environment – the need to continually apply and reapply, learn and relearn what we know about these topics as organisations adapt to today’s rapidly-changing climate.
Anya George, partner at Schellenberg Wittmer, then took to the stage, echoing these sentiments and highlighting the importance of diversity and inclusion to the firm.
Next, Karin de Witt, Director of Ethics, Compliance and Investigations at Lonza, delivered the keynote speech. Her lively and thought-provoking address set the tone for the evening’s discussions.
The first session of the evening, ‘AI in hiring: reducing or reinforcing bias?’, was moderated by Caroline Clemetson, partner at Schellenberg Wittmer. The panel was made up of Nora Rümbeli, Group Head Legal & Compliance Tech, Data & AI and Group DPO at VONTOBEL; Renate Lichtenegger, Chief Legal and Compliance Officer at Pocket App; Liliana Correia, Legal Counsel and HR Head at Swiss AI AG; and Thomas Schönholzer, General Counsel at The Swiss Post Ltd. The panelists engaged in an animated discussion regarding the pros and cons in-house counsel must consider if using AI to aid the recruitment process, from budget restraints and data protection issues to potential bias and the human element essential to hiring.
In light of recent social and political developments on a global scale, the second panel was entitled ‘Growing pressure on diversity and inclusion programs: balancing company values with compliance’. Moderator George Ayoub, partner at Schellenberg Wittmer, was joined on stage by Sandrine Wait, VP Head Legal Global M&A and Finance at Adecco Group AG; Ingrid Sollerer, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer and Executive Committee Member at Sandoz; and Rita Portmann Witmer, Head Legal WM Zurich at BNP Paribas (Zurich Branch). The panel considered how organisations’ diversity and inclusion initiatives may be affected by recent geopolitical changes. The panelists spoke passionately about how in-house counsel can best navigate these circumstances, ensuring that business continues but that employees’ voices are heard and company values are upheld.
The inclusive atmosphere encouraged audience engagement, with attendees posing insightful questions and interacting with the panelists, before Caroline Clemetson rounded off the evening with closing remarks.
Attendees and panelists then continued conversation and networking, while enjoying drinks and canapés. Legal 500 was honored to partner once again with Schellenberg Wittmer to provide a platform for these critical discussions.
