Dominican Republic 2024
Supported by the Association of Corporate Counsel
Legal manager Dominican Republic | Cerveceria Nacional Dominicana
Legal and compliance manager | E.T. Heinsen
Head of legal document preparation department | Ministerio de Hacienda de la República Dominicana
Vice president of legal services and corporate governance | Banco Múltiple BHD
In-house legal manager | Agentes y Estibadores Portuarios (Ageport)
Legal and compliance director | Primma Valores, Puesto de Bolsa
Vice president, legal and governmental affairs | AES Dominicana
Legal and compliance director | Nestlé Dominicana
General counsel and corporate governance director | Banesco Banco Múltiple
Assistant general counsel, legal operations – Latam and Caribbean | Phoenix Tower International
Senior associate | GASA Consultores
Corporate legal manager | Banco de Desarrollo y Exportaciones (BANDEX)
Head of the verification of standards and legal compliance department | Ministerio de Hacienda de la República Dominicana
Corporate legal manager | Pasteurizadora Rica (Grupo Rica)
Manager external affairs Caribbean | Philip Morris Dominicana
Senior manager of regulation | Asociación de Bancos Múltiples de la República Dominicana (ABA)
Legal director | InterEnergy Group (Dominican Republic)
Legal affairs and compliance manager | Industrias Banilejas
Vice president, general counsel - Latam | Phoenix Tower International
Legal manager | Banco Múltiple Promerica de la República Dominicana
Vice president of financial intermediation unit, consulting | Banco Múltiple BHD
Legal director | Tesorería de la Seguridad Social (TSS)
Legal and compliance manager | UC – United Capital Puesto de Bolsa
Head of legal | Empresa de Generación Eléctrica Punta Catalina (EGEPC)
Legal counsel | Globalia Servicios Corporativos RD
In-House lawyer | Lifestyle Holidays Vacation Club
Legal and regulatory director | Altice Dominicana
Legal counsel | Aeropuertos Dominicanos Siglo XXI (AERODOM)
General counsel | Banco de Desarrollo y Exportaciones (BANDEX)
Ena has more than 20 years of professional practice in different areas of law, with extensive experience in public and private management, handling highly complex cases throughout her professional career,...
Vice chancellor of foreign affairs and legal counselor | Universidad Tecnológica de Santiago (UTESA)
Legal director | Asociación de Bancos Múltiples de la República Dominicana (ABA)
Legal advisor | Pontificia Universidad Catolica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM)
Legal director | Corporación Hotelera del Mar
Liliana Torres has 19 years of experience mainly in the in the eastern region of the Dominican Republic (Punta Cana, Bávaro, Cap Cana)., and her main practice areas are civil,...
Vice president of legal affairs and regulatory compliance | Banco Popular Dominicano, Banco Múltiple
Graduated in Law cum laude from the Pontifical Mother and Teacher Catholic University, has completed master’s studies in Economic Analysis of Law with specialisation in financial operations at the Torcuato...
It has been a true privilege to lead the research for The Legal 500 GC Powerlist: Dominican Republic, 2024, once again highlighting the outstanding legal talent and innovation within this dynamic region. The energy and enthusiasm of the in-house counsel we had the pleasure of speaking to was truly inspiring, but what stood out even more was the remarkable evolution in the scope and complexity of the work they are driving across various industries. This edition offers a closer look at the key projects they’ve been involved in, how they navigate the ever-shifting legal landscape, and the issues that matter most to them personally and professionally.
This year, a significant theme that emerged from our conversations was the role of sustainability and ESG initiatives, particularly in how legal teams are embedding these values into their companies’ strategies. Many of the in-house counsel shared how their legal departments are becoming critical partners in driving sustainable growth and adhering to global standards on environmental, social, and governance matters. For example, Lauren Vargas, Corporate Legal Manager at Pasteurizadora Rica emphasised that ‘our role as legal counsel is to ensure that every step in our sustainability roadmap aligns with both local and international regulatory frameworks’.
Another striking trend we observed was the continued acceleration of digital innovation across industries. Legal teams are not just supporting this transformation—they are often at the forefront, crafting the frameworks that allow these advances to take place securely and within the bounds of the law. Yudith Castillo shared how ‘digital transformation is a significant and fascinating challenge in many countries, as it will inevitably bring about new laws or modifications to existing ones, which cannot be delayed. I am a firm believer in staying updated with such developments, striving to be open-minded and objective in recognising and understanding what we once considered unthinkable.’
Despite the challenges posed by global uncertainties and shifting regulatory environments, the resilience and adaptability of the in-house counsel in this edition shone through. Staying informed and agile was a common theme, with legal professionals detailing how they consistently engage with updates to laws and best practices. This includes everything from attending international conferences to seeking specialised advice from external experts.
In addition to their legal achievements, the counsel we spoke with also shared their dedication to causes that resonate with them personally. This year’s responses ranged from diversity and inclusion to mental health advocacy in the workplace, reflecting the broader role that in-house lawyers are playing in shaping company culture and driving positive change within their organisations.
We would like to extend our sincere congratulations to all the in-house counsel featured in this 2024 edition of the GC Powerlist: Dominican Republic. Their innovation, dedication, and leadership continue to set new benchmarks in the legal profession, and it has been an honor to engage with such a talented group of professionals. We look forward to seeing their ongoing contributions and impact in the years to come.
Margherita Birri, Lead researcher: GC Powerlist Dominican Republic 2024
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.
