Latin America Private Equity 2024
Supported by the Association of Corporate Counsel
General legal counsel and corporate secretary, BBVA Valores | BBVA
General counsel and chief compliance officer | Canvas Capital Brasil
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
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.
Legal 500 was proud to host the second edition of the GC Powerlist: East Africa 2025 in Nairobi, honouring the top General Counsel, Chief Legal Officers, Legal Directors, and senior in-house legal professionals across Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda. This year’s reception brought together over 100 of the most influential and innovative corporate counsel from the region, and was an unrivalled success, cementing Legal 500’s role as the leading voice in recognising in-house legal excellence across Africa.
The evening was opened by Joe Boswell, lead editor of the GC Powerlist publication at Legal 500, who highlighted the growing prestige of the East Africa edition and the increasing challenge of selecting honourees from such a deep (and rapidly growing) pool of talent.
Guests were then treated to some particularly relevant insights from distinguished speakers. Rachel Musoke, Head of ENS Uganda, delivered a thoughtful welcome that reflected on the importance of collaboration between private practice and in-house teams. This was followed by a powerful keynote from Habil Waswani, Company Secretary & Director Legal Services and Regulatory Compliance at Kenya Airways, who shared reflections on leadership, regulatory stewardship, and the evolving role of corporate counsel in East Africa.
The highlight of the evening was the certificate ceremony, where this year’s honourees were formally recognised. Certificates were presented by senior representatives of ENS, including Désiré Kamanzi (head of ENS Rwanda), Rachel Musoke, Nigel Shaw (head of ENS Kenya), Donald Nyakairu (Partner, ENS Uganda), Dieudonne Nzafashwanayo (partner, ENS Rwanda) and Binti Shah (Partner, ENS Kenya) whose participation underlined the depth of the firm’s support for the GC Powerlist initiative.
The GC Powerlist: East Africa 2025 reaffirmed The Legal 500’s commitment to shining a spotlight on the region’s most talented in-house lawyers. With an even stronger field of candidates, this year’s edition stands as a powerful testament to the influence and expertise of East Africa’s legal leaders. Habil Waswani’s excellent speech, which got a raucous reception from those in the room, is reproduced below with his permission:
‘My name is Habil Waswani, and I have been an inhouse legal practitioner for the past 21 years in different sectors (having done law-firm practice for 2 years before that). Tt is indeed a true privilege and honour for me to be here tonight, surrounded by the sharpest legal minds and calmest crisis-handlers the East African corporate world has to offer.
First, let me thank the Legal 500 and ENSAfrica teams, for organising such a fantastic event and for bringing us together in such style. Congratulations to each of tonight’s honourees. You represent the very best of general counsel in this very dynamic corporate space the businesses we support operate in. Strategic, ethical, resilient, and, let’s be honest, often underappreciated leaders of industry.
I am so happy that this evening is not about contracts, or compliance checklists, or board packs. Tonight is about celebrating you, the people behind all of that. The steady hands guiding companies through complexities, uncertainties, and ensuring that the opportunities that lie within those difficult circumstances are lawfully realized.
We all know the role of GCs has evolved. We are no longer tucked away at the end of a corridor marked “Legal” or labelled the proverbial “cost centres”. These days, the GCs sit at the big table – helping drive corporate strategy, shaping desired culture, providing leadership and safeguarding business reputations. We have become indispensable partners to businesses, interpreters, navigators, protectors… and on some (many) days, therapists with law degrees. And yet, we mostly do it all so quietly. No victory laps, no press releases. Often, success for us means the expected disaster didn’t happen.
But tonight, we break that rule. Tonight, we raise a glass to the GCs who’ve blazed the trail courageously, with clarity, conviction, and tremendous resilience that only matches the expectations of the Leadership Guru John Maxwell when he said, “resilient leaders don’t wait for the storm to past — they learn to dance in the rain”. You have managed to balance growth and governance, risk and reward regularly. And, of course, always managed to deal with those 10pm messages: “Hey, just a quick question…Are you able to talk right now…?”
Let this evening serve as a reminder that you are not just experienced legal advisors. You are leaders — spear heads and enablers of execution — and without a doubt critical pillars of business strategy.
To all the honourees, congratulations once again for the well-deserved recognition. This is for the heavy lifting that you do, the standards you uphold, and the impact you make – quietly, consistently, and brilliantly so. You’ve earned this spotlight.
