In-house counsel | Grupo Hoeckle
Diego Sebastián Valiente Torales
In-house counsel | Grupo Hoeckle
Legal team size: Nine
What are the projects that you are most proud of working on over the past 12 months?
Some projects I’ve been involved in are fuel distribution and exclusivity agreements, asset analysis and the reorganisation of debts.
Based on your experiences in the past year, are there any trends in the legal or business world, specific to Paraguay, that you are keeping an eye on that you think other in-house lawyers should be mindful of?
Yes, several key trends are emerging in Paraguay’s legal and business landscape. These include the integration of technological tools, particularly artificial intelligence, for process automation and reporting. There is also a growing emphasis on compliance, corporate governance systems, specialisation in public procurement and contracting, and an increasing focus on ESG standards, data protection, and cybersecurity. These developments are shaping how in-house legal teams add value and manage risk.
What are some key attributes every in-house lawyer should possess?
An effective in-house lawyer must be detail-oriented and highly efficient. It’s crucial to safeguard the business from a legal perspective while maintaining strong collaboration with colleagues and other departments. Quick response times to internal queries and staying ahead of legal and regulatory developments are also essential to the role. Ultimately, it’s about being both a protector and a proactive partner in the business.