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
It has been a great honour for Legal 500 to introduce the third edition of the GC Powerlist: Puerto Rico 2025 in San Juan, celebrating the outstanding in-house professionals shaping this jurisdiction’s corporate legal landscape.
This year’s reception welcomed general counsel, chief legal officers, legal directors and other leading corporate legal figures from across industries based in Puerto Rico, recognising their contributions to governance, innovation and public trust in the in-house legal sphere. This spirit is positioning Puerto Rico’s, as one of the most dynamic and resilient jurisdictions in the region.
Carmen Godoy, lead editor of this edition of the GC Powerlist: Puerto Rico at Legal 500, opened the evening by addressing the approximately 50 corporate legal professionals across industries who attended the reception in San Juan. In her remarks, Godoy highlighted how the research conducted for this edition revealed the remarkable resilience and human-centered approach of Puerto Rico’s in-house legal community. From being an example of adaptability and foresight when managing post-crisis reconstruction and fiscal reforms, to combining technological innovation with ethical responsibility, Puerto Rican legal leaders’ blend of integrity, empathy and purpose-driven leadership sets them as referents in their sectors.
Following Godoy, Miriam Figueroa, managing partner of DLA Piper Puerto Rico, and our hosts of the evening, addressed the audience with some remarks that highlighted the resilience of an in-house community that, in the face of uncertainty, has helped the region keep thriving and growing its relevance in the global stage.
After Figueroa’s remarks, Godoy proceeded with the certificate’s ceremony, in which each powerlister was invited to the stage to collect their certificate.
This year’s GC Powerlist event in Puerto Rico served as a great opportunity for the awardees to meet and exchange reflections with their professional peers and the Legal 500 team.
On behalf of the entire team at Legal 500, we extend our warmest congratulations to all those included in the third edition of the GC Powerlist: Puerto Rico. You stand as an example of resilience, leadership, and vision.
We would also like to take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude to DLA Piper, our sponsors, for joining us in recognising the exceptional talent driving progress across Puerto Rico’s legal profession. And, of course, to each of the honourees who shared their time and insights with us. It has been a privilege to share your stories and to celebrate the enduring impact you make every day.
