Green Mexico 2025
Supported by the Association of Corporate Counsel
Legal and HR director | PAN AMERICAN SILVER (MÉXICO)
Vice president of governmental affairs and sustainability | ENGIE México
Chief general counsel | Impulsora del Desarrollo y el Empleo en América Latina (IDEAL)
Executive director of legal and compliance | El Puerto de Liverpool
General counsel, ethics and compliance officer and DPO North Latam | Capgemini
VP legal & sustainability, assistant general counsel | Element Fleet Management México
General counsel and head of compliance | Americas Mining Corporation (Grupo México Mining)
Global chief compliance officer | ALEATICA
Head of legal and compliance officer | ATENTO México
Legal and compliance director (general counsel, secretary of the board and compliance officer) | Holcim México
Head of legal and corporate affairs | FRISA
General counsel, compliance officer and secretary of the board | Westrock México
Global general counsel, corporate secretary & managing director - ESG & business affairs | Alpura
Senior director legal & compliance | Novo Nordisk, Organon, Fox Networks, Cadbury & Colgate Palmolive
General Counsel and chief legal officer | Aeromexico
Chief compliance and sustainability officer | IENTC Telecom
Corporate legal director of compliance and sustainability | Fundación Teletón México
Senior legal counsel | Cubico Sustainable Investments
Founder and president | Mexican Hydrogen, Storage & Sustainable Mobility Association (AMH2)
GC & chief compliance officer | Grupo Mexico - Infrastructure Division
Environmental initiatives program manager, Latin America | Apple
Director of public affairs, communications and sustainability | Arca Continental
Legal manager of electricity and hydrocarbon | Penoles Industries
Senior manager responsible sourcing and business integration | Target
Attorney specialist | Â Hewlett Packard Enterprise
Head of public affairs, communications and sustainability, Caribbean | The Coca-Cola Company
Chief legal and regulatory officer. general counsel. director relaciones gubernamentales | Ford México
Compliance and sustainability director | Cinepolis Corporation
Vice president legal and corporate affairs, Middle Americas | AB InBev
It is with great pride that we present the Green Powerlist 2025 – Mexico, a special edition dedicated to recognising the in-house legal professionals who are driving meaningful change at the intersection of law, business, and sustainability.
This year’s honorees represent a new era of legal leadership—one that does not simply react to regulatory shifts but actively shapes them. As the global focus on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues intensifies, in-house counsel in Mexico are stepping into more strategic roles. They are navigating complex legal landscapes, embedding sustainability into corporate governance, and helping companies balance profitability with purpose.
From renewable energy expansion and green finance to circular economy initiatives and climate risk disclosure, the achievements of this year’s Powerlist members are as diverse as they are impactful. What unites them is a shared vision: that responsible business is not just good ethics, but good strategy.
This publication celebrates those visionaries—the general counsel, legal directors, and corporate legal teams—whose work is helping to future-proof their organizations and contribute to a more sustainable Mexico. Their leadership not only protects value; it creates it.
We congratulate all those recognised in this edition and thank them for inspiring the next generation of legal professionals to lead with conscience, creativity, and conviction.
Sincerely,
Margherita Birri, Research editor
Green Powerlist 2025 – Mexico
The 2025 edition of the GC Powerlist Colombia, held at the elegant Casa Medina in Bogotá, brought together some of the most influential general counsel and in-house legal leaders from across the country and region. The event highlighted how Colombian legal departments are evolving to meet the demands of an increasingly complex, tech-driven, and sustainability-conscious business environment. Key themes throughout the day included the strategic adoption of AI and legal tech, lean but agile team structures, shifting approaches to external counsel, and a strong commitment to ESG and inclusive leadership.
One of the most prominent discussion points was the integration of legal technology, particularly AI and large language models, into in-house legal work. Across companies like Uber, Unilever, Takeda, and GFT, there is strong momentum around the use of AI tools for contract lifecycle management—ranging from clause extraction and risk flagging to version control and automated drafting. However, rather than viewing AI as a replacement for legal professionals, most GCs described these technologies as strategic enablers that allow their teams to focus on higher-impact work. Laura Jaramillo Franco of Bayer provided one of the most detailed insights into how her team has deliberately structured their AI use. She emphasised that the value lies not in using AI for its own sake, but in tailoring each tool to specific use cases that align with legal risk standards and data protection policies. Tools such as Harvey, myGenAssist, Claude, Notebook, ChatGPT, Gemini, and Gamma are all part of Bayer’s ecosystem—each selected and implemented with clear purpose and governance.
Legal design was another emerging theme, with institutions like Scotiabank and Unilever investing in simplifying legal documents to make them more accessible to non-legal stakeholders. This is especially relevant in consumer-facing sectors where clear communication builds trust and mitigates risk. There is also growing interest in predictive analytics for litigation and compliance risk mapping, as legal departments seek more proactive ways to support business decisions.
Despite the growing influence of technology, staffing models remain lean. Most legal departments consist of teams ranging from three to nine professionals. However, size is no longer the defining factor of effectiveness. Instead, agility, business-embeddedness, and cross-functional collaboration are key. General counsel from companies such as Scotiabank, Cargill highlighted the increasing involvement of legal leaders in crisis management and business strategy, often working side by side with finance and communications teams. Upskilling, especially in technology and leadership, is an area of active investment, with Uber, for instance, noting formal programs aimed at equipping in-house lawyers for this evolving role.
The event also revealed a shift in the use of external counsel. In-house teams are now more confident in handling complex matters internally, including regulatory strategy, litigation, and M&A. Companies such as SierraCol and Bancolombia highlighted that while law firms remain essential, engagements are becoming more selective and strategic. The focus has moved from transactional work to long-term partnerships that add specialized value or support cross-border challenges.
Sustainability and ESG responsibilities continue to expand within legal departments. Legal leaders are increasingly central to ensuring compliance with ESG frameworks, advising on disclosures, and shaping product strategies aligned with social impact. Viviana Prada Rey of Grupo Cibest shared how her legal team plays a key role in advancing the company’s mission to contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. From advising on sustainable finance initiatives to monitoring ESG-related regulatory developments in both Colombia and the United States, the legal function has become instrumental in driving long-term impact.
Another area of strong focus was crisis resilience. Legal teams are leading scenario planning and designing compliance playbooks, ensuring they are prepared for unexpected events. Leadership and inclusion also featured prominently. Companies are integrating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) into their legal team strategies. Juliana Hoyos Flórez, General Counsel of SierraCol, discussed the company’s ALMA program (Academia de Liderazgo para Mujeres de Alto Impacto), which has empowered over 180 women across the company and community with leadership skills and is expected to reach 300 by 2026.
In conclusion, the GC Powerlist Colombia 2025 was a testament to the transformation of the legal profession in the region. Far from being reactive support functions, today’s legal departments are strategic, tech-savvy, socially conscious, and embedded at the heart of business decision-making. As demonstrated once again, Colombia’s in-house legal leaders are not just keeping pace with global trends—they are helping define them.
