Paraguay 2026
Supported by the Association of Corporate Counsel
Legal Director for the Central and Andean South region | American Tower
Head of Legal & Compliance | Itaú Seguros Paraguay S.A.
Senior Lawyer | South American River Company
Head of Legal Affairs and Compliance Officer B. Braun Medical Paraguay | B. Braun Medical
Senior Legal Manager – Argentina & Paraguay | American Tower
Legal Advisor | Sudameris Securities Casa de Bolsa y Sudameris Asset Management
Legal and Documentation Manager | ZUBA Paraguay
Legal Director | Avanza Desarrollos Inmobiliarios
Advisor to the Presidency at PETROPAR | Petróleos Paraguayos
Regional legal, compliance, governance and business partner | Noventiq
Director - Legal and Regulatory Affairs | Telecom Personal
Legal Director and Associate Comapny Secretary | CONMEBOL
Director of legal operations | Torrecom Partners
On behalf of The Legal 500, I am pleased to introduce the GC Powerlist: Paraguay 2026.
This edition recognises general counsel and in-house legal leaders who are helping to define the strategic direction of some of the country’s most significant organisations. Our research this year reflects a legal community operating with growing confidence: across multiple industries, in an increasingly regulated environment, and against a backdrop of steady economic development, evolving compliance demands and technological change that is reshaping how legal teams work.
Across financial services, telecommunications, energy, agribusiness, real estate and industrial groups, Paraguay’s GCs are no longer confined to technical advisory roles. They are embedded in business decisions, regulatory negotiations and governance agendas, often operating directly alongside boards and executive leadership. What stands out across this year’s cohort is a consistent emphasis on early involvement, commercial pragmatism and a clear-eyed approach to risk.
Aníbal Gómez de la Fuente, Legal Director at Frigorífico Concepción, captures the operating philosophy that runs through many of this year’s contributions:
‘The role of the legal department is to transform risk into a manageable variable, allowing the company to grow sustainably and predictably.’
It is a theme that runs through this edition, across sectors and team sizes: legal as a driver of growth, not an obstacle to it. It reflects a broader shift in how in-house legal functions are positioned within Paraguayan organisations: less as a final checkpoint, more as a function integrated from the outset.
The question of how legal teams add value, rather than simply manage exposure, is one this year’s contributors return to repeatedly. Carlos Cazaña Portella, Head of Legal Affairs at Enex Paraguay, offers a characteristically direct answer:
‘A General Counsel is not required to know everything, but to know where the response could be found, to transmit certainty on the consequences of actions, and to contribute ideas with creativity and pragmatism.’
On artificial intelligence, the contributions this year are less concerned with whether to adopt AI than with how to do so responsibly. Ana Elizabeth Garrido González, In-house Counsel at Constructora Heisecke, identifies a tension that many in the profession will recognise:
‘Speed can create an illusion of certainty. That is why we keep human judgement at the centre.’
It is a precise observation, and one that reflects a maturity in how Paraguay’s legal community is approaching technological change: neither resistant nor uncritical, but disciplined.
Taken together, these perspectives reflect a legal market in confident evolution. Paraguay’s leading GCs are increasingly measured not only by technical command, but by their ability to translate complexity into action, engage constructively with regulators, and position their teams as genuine contributors to business strategy. That is no longer an aspiration here. For the professionals featured in this edition, it is simply how they work.
On July 1st, Legal 500 unveiled the fourth edition of the GC Powerlist: Portugal 2026, in partnership with PLMJ. Hosted once again on the rooftop terrace of the firm’s Lisbon office under a blazing summer sun, the event brought together many of Portugal’s most accomplished in-house lawyers to celebrate this distinguished community of legal leaders.
Returning to its individual-focused format, this year’s edition marked the reintroduction of the Rising Stars category, recognising some of the country’s most promising emerging in-house counsel. It also saw the world debut of the Transnational Leaders category, highlighting general counsel whose leadership and influence extend beyond national borders and whose responsibilities span multiple jurisdictions.
The evening commenced with a welcome address from Legal 500’s editorial lead Francisco Castro, who emphasised the importance of continuously evolving the publication to reflect the realities of Portugal’s in-house legal market. He highlighted the rigorous research and selection process behind the GC Powerlist series and congratulated the honourees for their outstanding contributions to the profession and the organisations they serve.
Following this introduction, Bruno Ferreira, Managing Partner of PLMJ, took to the stage to congratulate those recognised in this year’s edition. In his remarks, he underscored the increasingly strategic role of in-house counsel in supporting business growth, navigating complexity, and driving legal excellence. He also reflected on the transformative impact that AI is having on the legal function and the opportunities it presents for corporate legal teams.
Concluding the formal proceedings, Alexandra Reis, Senior Counsel at Tabaqueira and a recipient in the inaugural Transnational Leaders category, shared a few reflections on the significance of recognising in-house lawyers and the value of fostering a strong, connected legal community. Drawing on her own experiences, she spoke about the importance of networking, knowledge-sharing and celebrating a profession whose contributions often take place behind the scenes.
The launch of the GC Powerlist: Portugal 2026 proved to be a fitting celebration of the country’s leading in-house legal talent. The evening showcased the depth, expertise, and influence of Portugal’s corporate counsel community while reaffirming Legal 500’s commitment to recognising and championing its achievements. We extend our sincere thanks to all those who participated in this year’s research process, and to PLMJ for once again partnering with Legal 500 to provide a platform that honours these exceptional legal professionals.
