Vera Cristina Castillo Ojeda – GC Powerlist
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Peru 2025

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Vera Cristina Castillo Ojeda

Legal manager | British American Tobacco del Perú

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Peru 2025

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Vera Cristina Castillo Ojeda

Legal manager | British American Tobacco del Perú

What do you consider the biggest challenge for in-house legal teams today, and how are you addressing it within your own team?

One of the biggest challenges for in-house legal teams today is navigating an increasingly dynamic regulatory landscape, often influenced by political shifts and evolving social expectations. This is particularly relevant in industries under close regulatory oversight, where frequent legal and policy changes can create uncertainty and require a high degree of agility and strategic alignment from legal teams.

At the same time, the acceleration of digital transformation presents both an opportunity and a challenge. While tools like AI and data analytics can enhance efficiency and decision-making, their implementation often requires significant organisational change and internal alignment to ensure compliance and ethical use, especially in highly regulated environments.

In our team, we address these challenges by fostering a culture of adaptability and continuous learning. We proactively monitor regulatory developments and prioritise cross-functional collaboration—both internally and with our external advisors—to anticipate risks and implement changes swiftly. Additionally, we promote the use of technology through targeted upskilling and by ensuring our legal processes are aligned with the company’s innovation goals, always with a strong focus on compliance and reputation management across all stakeholders.

How do you cultivate legal talent internally, and what skills do you see as most essential for the next generation of in-house lawyers?

The internal development of legal talent is fundamental to the sustainable growth of any organisation. Within our legal team, we actively cultivate the next generation of in-house lawyers through continuous training programs, personalised feedback, and the strategic assignment of projects that challenge and expand both technical expertise and practical judgment.

Looking ahead, I believe the most essential skills for future in-house counsel go beyond legal proficiency. Effective communication, adaptability to market and technological change, and the ability to think and act as a strategic business partner are all critical. The in-house lawyers of tomorrow must be not only legal experts, but also collaborative, business-oriented professionals who can drive value and support decision-making in an increasingly complex environment.

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