Latin America Private Equity 2024 – GC Powerlist
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Latin America Private Equity 2024

Supported by the Association of Corporate Counsel

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Alan Parker

Vice president and Brazil legal counsel | EIG Brazil

Financials

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Alfredo Apéstegui

Chief legal officer | Mesoamerica Investments

Financials

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Ana Lith Ramirez Aragon

Senior associate, legal | Fondos Sura SAF - Sura Investment

Financials

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Andrés Traversaro

Lead counsel | BC Energy

Energy and utilities

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Anna Dutra

General counsel | Avenue

Financials

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Diego Corp

Chief legal officer | Verano Energy

Energy and utilities

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Edgardo Cavalié

Managing director, chief legal officer and general counsel | Enfoca

Financials

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Guillermo Cabieses

Managing director, general counsel | Nexus Group

Financials

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Julian Graciano

Legal vice president | Yellowstone Capital Partners

Financials

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Larissa Sabino

Legal, compliance and regulatory director | Patria Investments

Financials

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Marita Bellido

Senior legal counsel, M&A international banking | Scotiabank

Financials

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Patricia Brocos

Legal director | Credicorp Capital

Financials

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Roger Saldana

General counsel | Cemex

Materials and mining

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Amália Costa

Legal manager | Volkswagen Brasil

Consumer products

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Amanda McGrady Morrison

General counsel | Advent International

Financials

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Ana Maria Bernal

Legal and corporate affairs manager | PEI Asset Management

Financials

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Antonio Peñaloza Perez

General counsel, Mexico | Global Payments

Financials

Bruno Gonzales Chirinos

Legal manager | Banco Bci Perú

Financials

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Carlos Rave Varón

General counsel | Valorem

Financials

Diana Bogotá

Legal counsel | IDB Invest

Financials

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Dolores de Elizalde

Legal advisor | Southern Cross Group

Financials

Felipe Barbosa

General counsel | Alfa

Financials

Francisco Rivadeneira

Legal vice president and company secretary | Scotiabank

Financials

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Gianmarco Tagliarino

General counsel and corporate affairs vice president | BRECA

Financials

Gonzalo Spada

Senior legal counsel | Pomelo

Financials

Gordon Cruess

Managing director | General Atlantic

Financials

Hernan Da Silva Artero

Regional legal manager | Puente

Financials

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Juan Martinez

Legal director | Artha Capital

Industrial and real estate

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Juan Pablo Aspe

Vice president, legal counsel | Macquarie Capital

Financials

Karim Abuid

General counsel | BTG Pactual

Financials

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Lucas Cuartas Gómez

Senior vice president, private credit | Sura Investment Management

Financials

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Manuel Salas

Director and chief legal officer | Grupo Cuestamoras

Financials

Marcelo Araujo Pereira

Chief legal officer | Nelogica

Information technology

Margarita Suarez Camargo

General legal counsel and corporate secretary, BBVA Valores | BBVA

Financials

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Maria Fernanda Acosta

Legal advisor | Fondo Latinoamericano de Reservas

Financials

Mariza Gomez

Legal manager | HPL Apollo

Energy and utilities

Mauricio Balbi

Regional general counsel | AUNA

Healthcare

Midori Makiyama

Legal counsel | Crédit Agricole CIB

Financials

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Mónica Andapia

Legal director | Goldman Sachs

Financials

Monica Ierullo

Executive and legal director | The Forest Company

Financials

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Peter de Svastich

Managing director | Global Emerging Markets

Financials

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Raphaela Vasconcelos

General counsel and chief compliance officer | Canvas Capital Brasil

Financials

Rodrigo Moreira

General counsel, Brazil | Mubadala Capital

Financials

Sara Rodríguez Gómez

Legal senior manager, corporate | The Home Depot

Consumer products

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Thomas Heather

Legal senior vice president | Macquaire Asset Management

Financials

As the GC Powerlist series expands, our aim is to create editions that spotlight individuals excelling in realms that may have previously eluded our attention. As investors increasingly turn to Private Equity for higher returns and strategic investments, specialised firms equipped with deep industry knowledge and transactional expertise are becoming indispensable. These companies facilitate complex deal structures, conduct meticulous due diligence, and navigate regulatory landscapes with expertise. 

Targeting areas for expansion within the GC Powerlist series depends on various factors such as emerging trends, industry developments, and the evolving needs of the legal community. Latin America was seen has the perfect setting given the continuous growth and demand for organisations specialised in Private Equity, as well as the great quality and talent of individuals based in the region.  

Accordingly, we are proud to introduce you to this very special edition of the GC Powerlist: Latin America Private Equity 2024. 

The interviews you can exclusively read in this publication were enlightening and provided fresh perspectives not only on how investment firms are utilising their legal experts to increase their gains, but also how difficult and unique of an environment the Latin American region is. “Latin American market’s economic stability and political dynamics vary widely, adding layers of complexity to legal strategies”, as recognised by Diego Corp Hoces de la Guardia, general counsel at Verano Energy, who also advises that “[r]emaining vigilant to navigate intricate regulations and ensure strict compliance is an ongoing commitment. The ever-changing political and economic dynamics necessitate a proactive stance to anticipate and mitigate potential risks. Constructing legal strategies that adeptly account for these uncertainties while still aligning with business goals is a constant juggling act.” 

Another great look at the Latin American scene when dealing in Private Equity is the perspective shared by Alfredo Apestegui, principal and chief legal officer at Mesoamerica, who states that “[d]oing Private Equity deals in Latin America has taught me several important lessons (…) there is no such thing as a “LATAM deal”, as every country is very different in terms of legal, political and macro environment, so having the right local partners and advisors is key”, a view that clearly manifests the great challenges that in-house lawyers face in this quite specialised sector of the legal industry. 

Despite challenges and difficulties, our interviews also reveal the great and many favourable outcomes that are result of these brilliant lawyers’ hard work. As Julian Graciano, legal vice president at Yellowstone Capital Partners notably expresses: “[s]eeing the positive impact of our investments in the environment and the lives of so many people and communities while meeting the expectations of our investors is the most rewarding experience of working as an in-house lawyer”. This sentiment was inferred during the interviews conducted, as there seems to be a collective deep fulfilment to see how their legal expertise contributes to sustainable development, social progress and economic growth, while also aligning with generally accepted values and commitments. 

The in-house lawyers deservedly featured in this special edition of the GC Powerlist strike the perfect balance between achieving financial objectives and fostering meaningful change, underscoring the profound impact legal experts can have in society. On behalf of The Legal 500, would like to introduce you to the most diligent and expert in-house lawyers in the field of Private Equity based in Latin America, and congratulate them for this terrific achievement. 

 

Francisco Faria e Castro 

Editorial lead 

In-House Legal Research Team | GC Powerlist Series 

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DLA Piper in Latin America’s Team offers full-service business legal counsel to domestic and multinational companies with interests in and operations throughout the region.  Our integrated approach to serving clients combines local knowledge with the resources of the DLA Piper global platform.  With over 450 lawyers practicing throughout Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, and Puerto Rico, in addition to our US-based cross-border attorneys, our teams frequently work with our professionals throughout the LatAm region, Iberian Peninsula, and around the globe.

A number of our lawyers were born or raised and educated in the region and are fluent in Spanish and/or Portuguese.  Many have also practiced law in both the US and Latin America and are intimately familiar with civil law systems and with the cultural and legal nuances required to successfully do business in the region.  Our strategic relationships on the ground throughout Latin America enhance our understanding of the region and enable us to provide our clients practical, meaningful legal advice.  DLA Piper’s global platform of 90+ offices in more than 40 countries enables us to serve all of our clients’ legal needs, whether they are based in Latin America or wish to do business there.

The United States, specifically New York and Florida, has deep economic and cultural ties to Latin America.  After many decades of being at the center of the most complex cross-border matters related to Latin America, New York law is firmly established as the most widely accepted applicable/governing law on cross-border transactions related to Latin America.

Our US based team of Latin America practitioners regularly acts as lead counsel on a wide range of cross-border matters in Latin America, ranging from complex capital markets, finance and M&A matters to public private partnerships and market entry and establishment issues.  For more information, visit Latin America | DLA Piper.

GC Summit: Denmark 2025

On October 2, Legal 500 returned to Copenhagen to host the highly anticipated GC Summit: Denmark 2025 at the Radisson Collection Royal Hotel. The event brought together prominent voices from the legal and business communities to explore the evolving role of in-house counsel in a rapidly shifting global landscape.

The day began with opening remarks from Legal 500’s editorial lead, Francisco Castro, who welcomed attendees and set the tone for the summit. He emphasised the importance of convening the corporate counsel community to engage in meaningful dialogue around the pressing challenges – and emerging opportunities – facing legal teams today.

The first panel delved into crisis management strategies for legal departments. Hanne Marthine Frederiksen, partner at Poul Schmith, and Søren Søndergaard, director at Rud Pedersen, shared practical insights on early risk detection, cross-functional coordination, and post-crisis recovery planning. The discussion underscored the growing expectation for legal teams to lead during periods of uncertainty and equipped attendees with actionable tools to enhance organisational resilience.

The second panel focused on regulatory reform, specifically the EU’s Digital Omnibus proposal and anticipated changes to the GDPR and NIS 2 Directive. Marlene Winther Plas and Christian Wiese Svanberg from DLA Piper Denmark, joined by Heidi Warm from the firm’s Brussels office and Tina Dorthe Nielsen, senior legal counsel at FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies, offered a practitioner’s perspective on navigating evolving data protection and cybersecurity legislation. The panel highlighted areas where simplification could benefit businesses and improve compliance outcomes.

After a short coffee break, the conversation turned to the insurance industry’s response to emerging global risks. Medea Solevad Plesner, legal director at Kennedys, Anja Deleuran, senior insurance manager at Carlsberg, Thomas Brenøe, director at Insurance and Pension Denmark, Lars Søhøj, financial lines underwriter at Zurich, and Jonas Spangsberg Svensson, attorney at The RiskPoint Group, explored how climate change, geopolitical instability, and the rise of consumer-led class actions are reshaping corporate risk profiles. The panel examined implications for claims handling and the future of insurance solutions across cyber, product liability, property, and D&O.

The final panel of the day addressed how legal teams can position themselves as strategic business partners. Moderated by Francisco Castro, the session featured John F. Kuckleman, group general counsel at Novo Nordisk, and Pia Ullum, legal vice president at Dell Technologies. Both speakers shared compelling examples of how in-house counsel can align more closely with business objectives, demonstrate measurable value, and build influence across the C-suite. The discussion highlighted the shift from reactive legal support to proactive leadership and commercial insight.

To close the event, Francisco Castro thanked all speakers and attendees for their contributions and engagement throughout the day. He reaffirmed Legal 500’s commitment to supporting the in-house legal community through high-impact events and thought leadership. Guests were then invited to enjoy refreshments and informal networking, providing a relaxed setting to continue conversations and forge new connections.