What are the projects that you are most proud of working on over the past 12 months?

I led the legal strategy for a high-stakes litigation case in Paraguay involving a multimillion-dollar commercial dispute with a former commercial partner. The case required aligning local litigation tactics with global corporate priorities, balancing negotiation efforts with procedural defenses in court, and coordinating input from multiple internal stakeholders and law firms across countries. The strategy helped mitigate potential financial exposure and laid the groundwork for a commercial exit strategy in the market.

Additionally, I led the review and restructuring of our supplier and distributors contracts in Uruguay, improving compliance controls and adapting terms to evolving antitrust and regulatory standards in the region.

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?

A trend we are closely monitoring is the growing number of judicial decisions declaring the nullity or unenforceability of arbitration clauses or arbitral awards, especially in commercial contracts. This reflects a complex legal landscape where local courts may challenge arbitration agreements even when they are clearly drafted and agreed upon. For in-house counsel operating across jurisdictions, this raises significant concerns around legal certainty and contract enforcement in Paraguay. We are reassessing risk exposure in existing contracts and are being particularly cautious when negotiating dispute resolution clauses with local partners.

In parallel, we’ve observed increased scrutiny in trademark enforcement, particularly regarding unauthorised brand use on e-commerce platforms and by former partners, which is reshaping how we approach IP protection in the country.

What are some key attributes every in-house lawyer should possess?

Adaptability, business acumen, and clarity of communication. In-house counsel must serve as both legal guardians and strategic partners. Especially in cross-border roles, being proactive, pragmatic, and able to translate complex legal risks into actionable recommendations is critical.