Ecuador 2023
Supported by the Association of Corporate Counsel
Chief legal officer | Trust Fiduciaria Administradora de Fondos y Fideicomisos
Compliance and data protection officer | Otecel (Telefónica Ecuador)
General counsel, Venezuela and Ecuador | Unilever Andina Ecuador
Legal and compliance manager | Duragas Abastible
Legal manager and regulatory coordinator for Ecuador and compliance regional lead | Directv Latin America
Legal counsel for Ecuador, Venezuela, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile and Paraguay | Halliburton
Legal manager | SBA Communications Corporation
Senior counsel | Phoenix Tower International Ecuador (PTIE)
Legal, corporate affairs and compliance manager | UNACEM Ecuador
General counsel, corporate affairs manager and chief compliance officer | Holcim
Legal, compliance and public relations manager | UNACEM Ecuador
Legal and compliance director | Corporación DK
General counsel and president of the compliance unit | Grupo Santillana
Legal and compliance manager, Ecuador, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Aruba and Curazon | Linde
Legal chief and data protection officer | Netlife Ecuador
Corporate manager of management control and risks and legal | Corporación GPF (Grupo Fybeca)
Legal and compliance director | Empresa Pública Metropolitana de Seguridad y Logística
The Legal 500 is proud to present to you the latest edition of the GC Powerlist: Ecuador. This eagerly awaited publication is committed to acknowledging and commemorating the outstanding achievements of the foremost in-house lawyers in the country.
This publication shines a spotlight on the noteworthy contributions of in-house counsel to businesses in Ecuador, standing as a testament to their expertise, leadership, and unwavering commitment to excellence. This 2023 edition underscores exceptional achievements and innovative approaches taken by the selected individuals as they navigate the intricate landscape of Ecuadorian law. Addressing challenges such as the implementation of artificial intelligence (AI), relationships with business partners, diversity and inclusion initiatives, among others, these professionals have showcased resilience and adaptability in a dynamic legal environment.
Within this publication, you’ll discover in-depth profiles and exclusive interviews featuring the most influential and esteemed in-house lawyers spanning various industries in Ecuador. These individuals consistently showcase their prowess in steering legal strategy, adeptly managing risks, and offering strategic counsel to their respective organisations. Their achievements not only serve as inspiration to the legal community but also exemplify the profound impact in-house lawyers can wield on the business strategy and success of their organisations.
This research brings to light several key findings, including the continuous and fast-growing application of AI within legal departments. As voiced by many in-house lawyers, echoed by Pedro del Pozo, senior counsel at Cirion Technologies, “we have already implemented platforms to attend our internal client by using artificial intelligence, which have allowed us to have better response times and thus contribute to the closing of important businesses on a daily basis.” In-house lawyers are recognising the potential of AI to enhance various aspects of their roles. One key area is the automation of routine tasks, allowing legal professionals to streamline processes, increase efficiency, and allocate more time to strategic and high-value activities. Undoubtedly, AI stands out as a noteworthy subject for in-house lawyers to monitor closely.
Furthermore, our findings underscore a persistent need for enhancing the relationship between legal teams and business partners. Despite the demonstrated value of in-house counsel, particularly evident during the challenges of the pandemic, there remains an opportunity for further advancement in cultivating more robust collaboration and mutual understanding between the legal and business functions. As perfectly put by Ricardo Dávalos at Linde, “[t]he best way to create strong relationships with our business partners is to stablished the “game rules” from the beginning of the relationship and to align our values and principles permanently.” In all, as voiced by in-house lawyers in general, this ongoing commitment to strengthening collaboration is vital for maximising the collective impact of both legal and business expertise within any organisation.
Legal departments in Ecuador are also quickly increasing their efforts on diversity, inclusion and equity initiatives. As our research underscores, fostering an inclusive culture for all is a top priority for in-house lawyers, as they are dedicated to showcasing the best version of their employees, irrespective of any external factor that is not relevant to their work. As stated by Gabriela Jijón, general counsel at Holcim, “[p]romoting an inclusive culture for all is a priority and we strive to highlight the best version of our employees regardless of their age, nationality or gender.” As a key takeaway from the many interesting interviews within this publication is the broad understanding that embracing the richness of perspectives that diversity brings, cultivating a culture where each employee can reach their full potential, fostering innovation and collaboration, will only bring benefits to the development and growth of companies in the country.
Within this publication, you’ll find exclusive content on various pertinent topics and challenges for all things in-house legal. Delve into the GC Powerlist: Ecuador 2023 and uncover the remarkable stories of these exceptional individuals. Through their experiences and insights, our aim is to offer a comprehensive overview of the legal landscape in Ecuador, emphasising the indispensable role played by in-house legal teams.
Our heartfelt gratitude goes to all the featured in-house lawyers for their invaluable contributions and for generously sharing their professional journeys with us. It brings us great pleasure to present to you this distinguished list, showcasing Ecuador’s most outstanding, dedicated, and celebrated in-house lawyers.
Francisco Faria e Castro | Senior research analyst | GC Powerlist series
The Legal 500 hosted the Green Forum Singapore 2025 at Allen & Gledhill’s offices on the 30th level of One Marina Boulevard, offering panoramic views across the Singapore Strait. The event brought together leading general counsel, sustainability experts, and legal practitioners from across Southeast Asia for an afternoon of insight and discussion on the fast-evolving ESG landscape.
As sustainability remains a defining challenge for global business, the Green Forum served as an essential platform for exploring how corporate legal teams can navigate emerging environmental, social, and governance risks while helping shape long-term responsible growth.
Opening remarks were delivered by Joe Boswell, Global Editor of The Legal 500’s GC Powerlist series, who highlighted the increasingly strategic role of in-house counsel in guiding organisations through the sustainability transition. He was followed by Jerry Koh, Managing Partner at Allen & Gledhill, who reflected on Singapore’s leadership in driving ESG progress across Southeast Asia and the importance of collaboration between the legal profession and industry in delivering meaningful change. He also spoke about the firm’s long-term commitment to sustainability. This extends to personal exertions by himself and the other staff at A&G, who recently engaged in rubbish-cleaning efforts in Singapore’s waterways.
The first panel, The Impact of Technology and AI on ESG: Considerations and Challenges, examined how rapid technological advancements are reshaping sustainability priorities. Moderated by Tham Kok Leong, Head of Technology & Corporate Intellectual Property Practice at Allen & Gledhill, the session featured Sophie Lim, Co-Head of ESG & Public Policy Practice at Allen & Gledhill; Doris Chen, Head of Legal, APAC at dsm-firmenich; and Richard Koh, Chief Technology Officer, Microsoft Asia, Enterprise Partner Solutions. Together they discussed the ethical and regulatory implications of AI adoption, the importance of governance and transparency, and how legal teams can leverage technology to drive sustainable value creation.
The second session, Sustainable Finance and Green Capital Markets: The Legal Counsel’s Role, turned to the evolving role of lawyers in guiding businesses through sustainability-related financial frameworks. Moderated by Elsa Chen, Co-Head of ESG & Public Policy Practice and Regional Co-Head of Competition & Foreign Investment Review Practice at Allen & Gledhill, panellists Mushtaq Kapasi, Managing Director and Chief Representative, Asia-Pacific, International Capital Market Association; Ong Kangxin, Partner at Allen & Gledhill; and Bridget Burns, Capital Markets Counsel at Wells Fargo explored Singapore’s pioneering Singapore-Asia Taxonomy for Sustainable Finance (SAT) and its implications for disclosure, risk management, and investor confidence.
The event closed with remarks from Elsa Chen, followed by networking drinks and canapés overlooking the Singapore Strait. It was the perfect way to end a successful and engaging afternoon that reaffirmed the legal community’s pivotal role in shaping a more sustainable and transparent business landscape.
