About

One of the most proficient and competent in-house counsel in the mining sector in Latin America, Guillermo Diez Canseco Tirado has over a decade of experience at the world’s pre-eminent mining company: Barrick Gold Corporation, the parent company of Minera Barrick Misquichilca. His vast technical expertise of the mining legal sector is also highlighted by his nine years as a university professor teaching the subject; he also currently teaches a Master’s degree course in health and safety management. Formerly a senior lawyer with Barrick Gold, he progressed to the role of legal chief in 2013 and since 2014 has headed up the legal function for the company’s Lagunas Norte mine as legal superintendent. This is a particularly prestigious position, as the mine is one of the largest and most profitable in the world. He describes his role as such: ‘My main responsibilities are to provide legal advice to the various branches of the operation on issues related to environment and social management in the area of influence, to ensure compliance with current regulatory frameworks related to the operation, to obtain the permits required for the mine to operate and to review contracts and to provide legal advice throughout their execution. I also secure the surface land required to operate, manage and monitor judicial processes and administrative procedures surrounding environmental, safety and health issues. As well as this, I represent the company’s interests in negotiations with various interest groups and provide training on business codes and ethics’. Diez also describes the significant role he played in a major Barrick project: ‘In 2009, Barrick responded to a request from the Asociación de Mineros Artesanales del Alto Chicama (AMACHIC). The objective was to legalise the mining activities carried out by AMACHIC associates within an area where mining rights are owned by Barrick. As the head of the legal department at Lagunas Norte mine, I had the opportunity to promote the formalization process as it related to the authorities, in coordination with AMACHIC representatives, and provide legal support during the formalisation process. In 2014, a mining contract between Barrick and AMACHIC was signed, and in 2016 AMACHIC was recognized as a legal association of coal miners in accordance with Peruvian law. Upon completion of this process, a formal meeting was held with the vice minister of mines to grant the resolution that concluded the formalisation process’.