Europe: Latin America Specialists 2023
Supported by the Association of Corporate Counsel
Senior legal counsel, Iberoamerica | Securitas - Security Services Ibero America
Senior legal counsel, EU and LATAM | Eiffage EnergÃa Sistemas
Global head of legal and secretary general | Secuoya Content Group
Legal counsel, concessions division | OHLA Group
Senior regional legal manager, Brasil, HispAm and global projects | Telefónica
Chief legal officer and public affairs director | Acciona
General counsel and secretary of the board of directors | Hispasat
Head of legal, Iberia, Italy and LATAM | Majorel
Senior director, legal and compliance | Llorente y Cuenca
Legal director, concessions division | OHLA Group
General counsel and company secretary | REN - Redes Energéticas Nacionais
Senior vice president, compliance and data protection, International | Fresenius Kabi
General counsel and head of compliance | Eurodivisas (Global Exchange Group)
Legal counsel, project finance | Sacyr Concesiones
Group general counsel and company secretary | Distribuidora Internacional de Alimentación
Senior legal manager, Spain, Portugal and LATAM | Astellas Pharma Europe
Head of legal, procurement global contrats and tenders | Enel Group
General counsel, beauty and wellbeing LATAM, head of legal and data privacy leader, LATAM | Unilever
Head of legal Santander Corporate & Investment Banking Germany, Austria, Switzerland & Nordic countries | Banco Santander
Corporate counsel and company secretary | Vencorex France
General counsel, Iberoamerica | Securitas Seguridad España
Vice president and deputy general counsel, international legal (EMEA, APJ, LATAM) | Hewlett Packard Enterprise
Senior legal director Europe, Turkey and Africa, CIS and LATAM | Oriflame Cosmetics
Group head of legal and compliance and company secretary | PetrolValves
Vice president, deputy general counsel, EMEA | Baxter International
Legal counsel and board member | Ferrovial Airports International
Legal director, Spain and LATAM | INTELCIA
Senior director, associate general counsel, head of legal EMEA and LATAM | Adobe
Legal counsel and general secretary | Grupo Ortiz
Legal director | Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas
Global counsel, regulatory compliance and disputes | Spotify
Group executive committee member, group general counsel and commercial and contract management | Capgemini
Legal and finance director | Depuración de Aguas del Mediterráneo
Associate general counsel, head of legal for Europe, MEA and APAC | Sonova Group
Legal manager and compliance officer | UBE Corporation Europe
Lead legal counsel, M&A and corporate | NTT Data Europe & LATAM
Vice president, head of legal, Middle East and Africa | Stellantis
Executive vice president, general counsel international markets | MasterCard
We are thrilled to present to you the inaugural GC Powerlist: Europe Latin America Specialists 2023. This eagerly awaited publication marks a significant milestone, building on the success of its predecessor, 2022’s GC Powerlist Spain: Latin America Specialists.
This new release is a testament to the continuous commitment of recognising and celebrating the outstanding accomplishments of Europe’s leading in-house lawyers who dedicate their efforts to the dynamic and challenging Latin American markets.
As the legal landscape continues to evolve and globalise, the role of in-house lawyers becomes increasingly pivotal in navigating the complexities of international business. The focus on Europe’s top in-house lawyers with a specialisation in Latin American markets underscores the strategic importance of this region in the global business arena. Latin America, with its diverse economies, regulatory frameworks, and cultural nuances, presents unique challenges that demand specialised expertise.
The publication not only highlights the professional achievements of these lawyers but also serves as a platform for acknowledging their expertise in dealing with the intricacies of cross-border legal matters. Whether it’s managing mergers and acquisitions, navigating regulatory compliance, or addressing cultural considerations, these legal professionals play a crucial role in facilitating successful business operations between Europe and Latin America.
A key takeaway from our the exclusive content within the publication is that Latin America is a region with a rich and diverse cultural tapestry, and this diversity extends to the ways in which business is conducted across various countries. As brilliantly put by Enrique Rubio Ayala, senior regional manager at Telefónica, “Culture across Latin American countries is enormous. It is reflected in different the ways to work and different business tactics”. On this, Leandro Meneses, general counsel at Duro Felguera also states that “[t]he legal landscape in Latin America is very diverse, and each country has its own unique set of laws and regulations.” In all while it’s important to recognise that generalisations might not capture the nuances of each nation’s business culture, there are some common trends and characteristics that are often observed, essential to the way in-house lawyers conduct their operations in the region.
As businesses continue to expand globally, the need for legal expertise in navigating diverse legal systems and business environments becomes paramount. The GC Powerlist publication plays a crucial role in shedding light on the achievements of those at the forefront of this legal frontier, contributing to the broader dialogue on the intersection of European and Latin American legal practices.
There are many other relevant topics and challenges exclusively discussed in this publication, so we invite you to explore The GC Powerlist: Europe Latin America Specialists 2023 and discover the extraordinary stories of these exceptional individuals.
We would like to express our gratitude to all the in-house lawyers featured in this publication for their valuable contributions and for sharing their journeys with us. I am delighted to present to you this distinguished list of Europe’s most exceptional, diligent, and celebrated in-house lawyers with a focus on Latin American markets.
Francisco Faria e Castro | Lead researcher
It has been an absolute pleasure for Legal 500 to host the launch of the GC Powerlist Switzerland 2025 at the iconic Baur au Lac in Zürich, honouring Switzerland’s most accomplished general counsel and senior in-house legal professionals across industries.
Taking place in one of Europe’s leading financial and innovation hubs, the reception convened the nation’s foremost corporate legal minds for an evening of reflection and celebration. It spotlighted the growing influence of in-house counsel as strategic partners who balance innovation with integrity, and who drive sustainable transformation within Swiss and international organisations alike.
Opening the event, Carmen Godoy, lead editor of the Legal 500 GC Powerlist Switzerland 2025, welcomed the guests and reflected on the strength and forward-thinking nature of the Swiss in-house community. She highlighted that the research behind this year’s edition revealed a profession characterised by integrity, innovation, and a strong sense of responsibility: one that continues to evolve with agility, foresight, and humanity.
According to Godoy, three core themes stood out during this year’s research. Firstly, resilience and governance, as Swiss legal teams continue to act as stabilising forces within their organisations. Secondly, digital transformation, with legal departments embracing technology, data analytics, and AI to become more proactive and future-ready. And, finally, sustainability and inclusion, as in-house counsel increasingly embed ESG principles and
diversity into corporate culture, leading with both purpose and empathy.
The evening also featured insightful remarks from Daniel Hayter, vice president Europe at Axiom Law, and Alexander Wyss, managing partner at Baker McKenzie Switzerland. Both shared their views on the evolving role of general counsel as strategic partners and innovators within their organisations. They highlighted the critical importance of in-house
legal teams learning to integrate and work alongside AI, an ally that enhances, rather than replaces, the strategic and human leadership of general counsel. Their reflections reinforced the essential role of collaboration between firms and in-house teams in fostering a resilient and forward-looking legal ecosystem.
This year’s GC Powerlist Switzerland 2025 honourees had the opportunity to share their experiences and perspectives with the Legal 500 team and their peers, engaging in energizing conversations that highlighted the strength, ethics, and forward-looking approach of the Swiss legal community.
On behalf of the entire team at Legal 500, we extend our warmest congratulations to all those included in the 2025 edition of the GC Powerlist: Switzerland. Your leadership, innovation, and commitment to excellence continue to set the benchmark for the profession both within the country and internationally.
We also wish to express our deepest gratitude to our sponsors, Axiom Law and Baker McKenzie Switzerland, for their continuous support in helping us celebrate the remarkable in-house legal talent driving progress across Switzerland.
