Ecuador 2025
Supported by the Association of Corporate Counsel
Legal manager Colombia and Ecuador | Patterson-UTI International
Compliance and data protection officer | Telefónica Ecuador
General counsel Ecuador | Huawei Technologies Ecuador
Legal manager - Ecuador | SBA Communications Corporation Ecuador
Senior counsel | Phoenix Tower International Ecuador (PTIE)
Vice president of legal and corporate affairs | Reybanpac
Legal counsel and regulatory affairs | Corporación El Rosado
Legal and compliance and corporate affairs director | Holcim
General counsel and president of the compliance unit | Grupo Santillana
Vice-president of legal, corporate affairs and sustainability | Nestlé Ecuador
Submanager of compliance, AML/AFC and data protection | Generali Ecuador Compañía de Seguros
Chief legal and corporate relations officer | Quala
Chief legal officer | Trust Fiduciaria Administradora de Fondos y Fideicomisos
Director | Cámara de Industrias de Guayaquil
General counsel, Venezuela and Ecuador | Unilever Andina Ecuador
Legal and compliance manager | Duragas Abastible
Executive director | Fundación de Apoyo al Desarrollo Sustentable del Ecuador (FADSE)
Senior legal manager and compliance officer | Corporación Quiport
Legal, corporate affairs and compliance manager | UNACEM Ecuador
Legal, compliance and public relations manager | UNACEM Ecuador
Legal and compliance manager, Ecuador, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Aruba and Curazon | Linde
Legal and compliance director | Empresa Pública Metropolitana de Seguridad y Logística
Congratulations to everyone featured in our first standalone GC Powerlist Ecuador since 2023 – a return that is long overdue. Alongside Dentons Paz Horowitz, we are excited to once again shine a spotlight on the exceptional in-house legal talent in Ecuador, one of the most dynamic markets in the whole of Latin America, through this dedicated publication.
A sincere thank you to everyone who took the time to speak with us for this project. These conversations are what bring the Powerlist to life, allowing us to share insights from leading general counsel with a global audience and contribute to the broader development of the in-house legal community.
Through the GC Powerlist initiative, we aim to foster connections between general counsel, enabling them to exchange knowledge, learn from one another, and support each other’s professional growth – something we know is vital in today’s evolving legal landscape.
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.
