What do you think are the most important attributes for a modern in-house counsel to possess?

The role of in-house counsel has shifted from being a “legal gatekeeper” to a strategic business partner. For a lawyer at an institution like Bci, the most critical attributes are:

– Commercial Acumen: Understanding the bank’s financial drivers and risk appetite.

– Digital Literacy & AI Fluency: Understanding how algorithms and automated workflows impact credit decisions, data privacy, and contract lifecycles.

– Adaptability & Agility: The ability to navigate cross-border regulatory changes (particularly between Peru, Chile, and the US) is paramount.

– Emotional Intelligence (EQ): A lawyer’s value today lies in negotiation, ethics, and managing complex stakeholder relationships.

Are there any key trends that you think in-house lawyers should be monitoring over the next year?

For an in-house lawyer in the Peruvian banking sector, these three trends are essential:

1. Agentic AI & Legal Operations: The integration of autonomous AI tools into legal workflows.

2. ESG Compliance & Reporting: Increasing requirements for environmental, social, and governance transparency.

3. Cross-Border Regulatory Divergence: Managing the evolving legal landscapes across different jurisdictions.