Mexico Rising Stars 2023
Supported by the Association of Corporate Counsel
Assistant general counsel, Latina America | IPG Mediabrands and Kinesso
Corporate, labour and litigation legal affairs director | General Motors de México
Senior legal counsel – Mexican manufacturing operations, Andean and Caribbean entities | Emerson Electric Â
Deputy general counsel, head of wholesale legal and markets legal for Mexico and Latam | HSBC
Senior legal counsel - Americas region | HERE Technologies
Senior legal and compliance counsel | Element Fleet Management Corporation México
Group legal counsel region Americas | DNV
Senior corporate legal manager | Servicios Corporativos Javer
Senior corporate legal manager | Restaurantes ADMX (McDonald´s México)
Latam senior legal counsel | The Coca-Cola Company
Counsel, senior manager | Mondelēz Snacking Mexico
Latam legal counsel | The Coca-Cola Company Â
Senior counsel for Latam | Marathon Petroleum Corporation
Associate director, general lawyer - Latin America compliance focal point | Kyndryl México
Senior legal counsel and compliance officer | TC Energy
Head of legal | MPA - FIBRA Macquarie GroupÂ
Employee relations generalist | H&M HENNES & MAURITZ
Senior legal manager – corporate and real estate | The Home Depot México
Deputy legal director | KCSM Kansas City Southern de México
Deputy general counsel Mexico and Northern Latam | Continental
Regional head of intellectual property Mexico | Nestlé
Gerente jurÃdico de inversiones e innovación en sistemas de pago y remesas | Grupo Elektra
Deputy corporate and finance legal director | Grupo Televisa
Financial services legal manager | Walmart de México y Centroamérica
Legal director | CBRE Global Workplace Solutions
Legal counsel corporate and investment banking | Banco Sabadell México
With immense pride, The Legal 500 presents the eagerly awaited second edition of GC Powerlist: Mexico Rising Stars 2023, dedicated to shining a luminous spotlight on the rising stars of in-house counsel based in Mexico. This edition takes you on a journey through the dynamic careers of these in-house lawyers who are steadily ascending the ladder of success in their field. It is an exciting offshoot from our regular research endeavors in Mexico, notably The GC Powerlist Mexico, our publication that celebrates the accomplishments of senior in-house counsel across the country.
This edition’s interviews not only showcase the key support provided by these emerging legal talents within their organisations but we were eager to uncover the remarkable journeys that have brought our rising stars to their current positions – from the moment they decided to embark on a career in law to the daily challenges they encounter in their roles. The counsel featured in this publication generously shared the steps they are taking to ensure their personal and professional growth within their respective companies.
Alessandra Marcarian, Assistant General Counsel, Latin America at IPGMediabrands and Kinesso, summed up her approach: ‘I have always been fortunate to have extraordinary mentors in my professional life. As an in-house counsel, I make sure I surround myself with mentors in different areas ranging from senior counsel, strategists, sales and account managers, top executives, and now publicists. By doing so, I learned to view obstacles and opportunities from various angles and to make recommendations suited to the scenario at hand. Curiosity is another trait that allows me to develop professionally and personally. The goal is to always learn something new. Every. Single. Day’.
Within the pages of this publication, you will find a rich tapestry of the challenges that rising stars have faced and continue to encounter in their daily roles. Ana Paula Rendón, Legal and Compliance Manager at Navistar Mexico, encapsulates the sentiment of our rising stars: ‘Being an in-house counsel for a big company, serving a large variety of internal clients focused on vastly different goals and aspects of the business, can lead to a perception of lack of service, or in hasty decision making. Therefore, having a trustworthy team, prepared and willing to go into battle with the mindset of growing and achieving common goals, is the most practical and efficient way to meet the internal client’s expectations while learning from the experience’.
Bibiana Isabel Rangel Osorno, Corporate, Labour, and Litigation Legal Affairs Director at General Motors de Mexico, shared her insights into facing change and adapting to new industry sectors and scenarios: ‘The main challenge for me has always been change. We, as humans, love to feel comfortable but in the legal corporate world that is just a hint that your growth is stuck. So, change enters as a key support in continued growing. Of course, it is not always easy or pleasant. Having to learn new tasks, new areas, familiarise yourself with the current projects and operations may be challenging and that is mainly due to the time this might take, but it is always a very satisfactory process. In my career I have managed different areas along the company, from purchasing and logistics, to finance, then to labour and criminal, corporate and sales, workplace safety, marketing, and the list goes on and on, and each time is a challenge, but it is definitely worth it’.
I invite you to delve into the fascinating stories and unique perspectives of Mexico’s Rising Stars in the in-house legal community, shared within these pages.
Lastly, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the in-house counsel featured in this publication, as they join the ranks of hundreds of Powerlisters worldwide, achieving remarkable milestones in your legal careers. It was indeed a pleasure to connect with you and learn about your incredible contributions to the legal realm.
Sara Maggi| Deputy Editor The Legal 500 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.
