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 Energía 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
The Legal 500 Mexico Forum gathered leading legal professionals, business executives, and policymakers for a day of timely discussion and forward-looking debate on the evolving regulatory landscape in Mexico and the broader region. Against the backdrop of sweeping legal reforms, international pressures, and growing investor scrutiny, the forum served as a critical space to examine the opportunities and challenges reshaping business and law in the country.
The day began with thoughtful opening remarks, setting the tone for a programme that was as rich in insight as it was in strategic relevance.
The opening panel, held with the support of Greenberg Traurig, explored the future of competition regulation in Mexico in light of the recent dismantling of autonomous regulatory bodies such as COFECE. Panelists examined the shifting legal architecture and assessed how these changes could impact both domestic market dynamics and Mexico’s standing in the international economic order.
This was followed by a high-stakes session hosted in collaboration with Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez, focusing on judicial reform and dispute resolution. Legal leaders and general counsel shared practical perspectives on the implications of the reform for corporate strategy and legal certainty. The growing prominence of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms such as mediation and arbitration was highlighted as a critical priority for in-house teams seeking to mitigate risk in an increasingly complex environment.
The energy sector came into sharp focus during the panel supported by Sainz Abogados, which examined the impact of the 2025 energy reforms. With state entities taking on expanded roles, the legal and commercial frameworks underpinning investment in power generation and hydrocarbons have entered a phase of heightened uncertainty. Discussions centred on how policy shifts, capital access, and sustainability commitments are shaping investor sentiment in Mexico’s energy future.
Later, attention returned to ADR in the context of tax and administrative disputes, during a session delivered in collaboration with Cuatrecasas. With judicial reform accelerating, the panel explored how administrative ADR mechanisms—such as arbitration and conciliation—are offering efficient, lower-risk alternatives to traditional litigation. These tools, the panel noted, are particularly appealing to clients seeking both speed and predictability in outcomes.
In partnership with LHO, the next panel tackled the intersection of criminal compliance, sustainability, and social justice in an increasingly globalised regulatory environment. Experts discussed how Mexican businesses are aligning internal governance with extraterritorial legal frameworks and growing stakeholder demands. The conversation underscored the need for resilience, ethical foresight, and transparency as businesses navigate a compliance landscape influenced by both domestic law and international norms.
Labour reform took centre stage in a session delivered with the involvement of Ferran Martínez Abogados. As Mexico considers reducing the standard workweek from 48 to 40 hours, the panel assessed the legislative, social, and economic implications of this significant shift. Drawing on international examples and domestic realities, speakers offered a balanced view of the reform’s feasibility and the adjustments required by employers and legislators alike.
Closing the main programme were two fireside chats with a regional lens. The first, supported by Canales®, highlighted Monterrey’s emergence as a hub of innovation, entrepreneurship, and investment. With its dynamic business climate and growing international influence, Monterrey is increasingly seen as a model for regional development. The second session, held in association with Pellerano & Herrera, turned attention to the Dominican Republic. Panelists examined its legal and economic transformation, underscoring the country’s growing appeal to foreign investors across sectors such as infrastructure, energy, and finance.
