Europe: Latin America Specialists 2024
Supported by the Association of Corporate Counsel
Senior legal counsel, EU and LATAM | Eiffage EnergÃa Sistemas
Global head of legal and secretary general | Secuoya Content Group
Commercial attorney, EMEA and Latin America | Instructure
Senior regional legal manager, Brasil, HispAm and global projects | Telefónica
Senior director of legal department, Iberia and LATAM | Tenerity & Webloyalty Group
Executive director, legal, for Latin America and global retail | Johnson Controls
General counsel and secretary of the board of directors | Hispasat
Senior lega counsel and compliance manager, Spain and LATAM | YouHodler
International legal counsel, commodity trading and compliance officer, MENA and LATAM | Snetor
General counsel, EMEA and LATAM | Spencer Stuart
General counsel and company secretary, Europe and LATAM | Sanitas
Manager commercial legal, EMEA and LATAM | OutSystems
Head of legal SCIB - Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Nordic Countries | Banco Santander
Senior vice president, general counsel, EMEA and LATAM | American Tower
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
Vice president and general counsel international, EMEAI, APAC and LATAM | Olin
Legal director, Spain and LATAM | INTELCIA
Senior director, associate general counsel, head of legal EMEA and LATAM | Adobe
General counsel, Latin America, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa | Mundipharma
General counsel, Iberia, Italy and LATAM | Securitas Direct by Verisure
Lead legal counsel, M&A and corporate | NTT Data Europe & LATAM
Vice president, chief counsel, EMEAR and LATAM | Element Solutions
Executive vice president, general counsel international markets | MasterCard
Senior legal counsel, data protection officer, EMEA and LATAM | Pure Storage
Building on the success of last year’s inaugural edition, The Legal 500 is proud to present the second edition of the GC Powerlist: Europe Latin America Specialists, a special issue of the series 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, in-house lawyers play an increasingly crucial role in navigating the complexities of international business. This edition’s focus on Europe’s top legal professionals specialised in Latin American markets reflects the strategic importance of the region on the global stage. Latin America – with its diverse economies, regulatory frameworks, and cultural nuances – demands a nuanced skill set that only the most dedicated experts can provide. Each country within the region operates under its own set of economic conditions, legal systems, and regulatory standards, often requiring legal experts to be agile and well-versed in a variety of local laws and practices. The frequent shifts in regulatory landscapes, combined with rapid economic development and socio-political dynamics, mean that legal professionals must not only stay informed about ongoing changes but also anticipate potential shifts that could impact business operations.
This publication goes beyond listing professional accomplishments, as it offers a platform to acknowledge the unique expertise required to manage cross-border legal matters. From overseeing mergers and acquisitions to ensuring regulatory compliance and bridging cultural differences, these in-house lawyers are essential to successful business operations between Europe and Latin America.
As global business expands, the need for skilled legal professionals who can navigate diverse legal systems and business environments becomes indispensable. This special edition of the GC Powerlist celebrates those at the forefront of this legal frontier, adding to the wider dialogue on the intersections of European and Latin American legal practices.
We invite you to explore the GC Powerlist: Europe Latin America Specialists 2024 and discover the extraordinary stories of these outstanding individuals. We extend our deepest gratitude to all the in-house lawyers featured in this publication for their invaluable contributions and for sharing their journeys with us. It is my pleasure to present this distinguished list of Europe’s most dedicated, insightful, and celebrated in-house lawyers focused on Latin America markets.
Francisco Faria e Castro | Research Editor | GC Powerlist series
The recent news that elite US firm Sullivan & Cromwell had apologised to a judge over AI hallucinations in a court filing prompted a collective wince from the legal profession.
But while some lawyers remain wary of AI, others are striking a more open-minded note, and at the LexisNexis AI Forum hosted this Wednesday (20 May) by Legal 500 and Legal Business, panelists argued that the risks are far outweighed by the opportunities.
Barbara Zapisetskaya, principal technology counsel at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, made the case that hallucinations and other potential pitfalls can be overcome with a shift in mindset.
‘What makes a difference,’ she said, ‘is empowering your lawyers to take responsibility for AI output – helping them become active AI operators, not just passive AI users. You have agency to decide whether you agree with the output or not.’
Zapisetskaya was among a line-up of leading in-house figures speaking on two panels, which covered everything from practical steps for AI implementation to the key decisions GCs need to be making in the coming months.
Financial Times general counsel Dan Guilford began by stressing the importance of building the right culture for AI adoption. In addition to proactively upskilling himself, Guilford talked about how he had implemented a voluntary weekly ‘show and tell’ meeting for team members to share successful use cases – or an exercise that became a gratifying measure of progress.
Other panelists discussed how increased in-house productivity is altering the dynamic with their external counsel.
While some see the use of AI by law firms as a precursor for reduced fees, Russell Davies, head of global operations for legal and compliance at Dentsu, said that faster results – however they are delivered – are something to be valued.
GSK assistant general counsel Anthony Kenny agreed, saying that while there was an expectation that external counsel would be utilising AI, the focus should be on the value of the output, rather than an overemphasis on identifying AI use as a justification to reduce fees.
Speaking on the second panel, MUFG EMEA general counsel James Morgan stressed the critical importance of education, noting that educating the C-suite on the advantages and risks of AI is just as important as enabling large in-house teams to use these tools.
Shanthini Satyendra, vice-chair of the AI Committee, Society for Computers & Law, CEO and founder of Manisain, offered a reminder of the importance of making the connection between tasks and the purpose behind them, extolling the virtues of identifying use cases for AI that can solve a meaningful problem.
Zapisetskaya concurred, adding that one of the most important tasks for GCs across the next six to twelve months is to create AI playbooks and templates, noting that ‘it is easy for lawyers to see problems – much harder for lawyers to see opportunities.’
There was also broad agreement among panellists that GCs should focus on upskilling their junior lawyers on AI, rather than – as some may expect – cutting back their workforce. As Satyendra summarised: ‘Some people are replacing human capital with AI without thinking about what’s required to make AI work. Retain your people and train them up.’
The panels were moderated by Emma Millington, head of the UK Lexis+ Finance Group, and LexisNexis director of segment management Stuart Greenhill.
