Team size: 6

What are the key projects that you have been involved in over the past twelve months?

The company began expanding its business in Ecuador under the Starbucks brand. After evaluating local regulations, it took all necessary steps to incorporate the new company in Ecuador and obtain all regulatory permits required to operate the premises, including municipal, tax, customs, and shopping center lease permits, among others, laying the groundwork for expansion in Ecuador.

Similarly, the final stage of the corporate reorganisation that the company was carrying out in Peru was completed, resulting in the creation of new companies.

In addition, an entire crisis management structure was created, ranging from the creation of a Crisis Manual, the formation of a Crisis Committee, the appointment of its members, and the classification of crises according to their reputational and/or economic impact. All of this allowed those of us who made up the Crisis Committee to gain experience as crises arose, enabling us to find quick and highly effective solutions. Recently, the Personal Data Law is being implemented, as the company has a large amount of personal data that must be stored and managed correctly in order to protect the information of its customers.

Are there any particular challenges for which in-house counsel should be preparing in 2026?

Yes, and it’s like applying artificial intelligence (AI) intelligently within legal procedures, which simplifies the workload. Currently, the use of digital signatures for signing contracts has become widespread, but AI goes further, becoming a key virtual assistant for legal decision-making, enabling legal teams to work efficiently and provide high-quality legal services.

Have you had any experiences during your career as a lawyer that stand out as particularly unique or interesting?

Yes, during my career I have had to participate as a lawyer in various conflicts between shareholders. In one of the companies where I worked, a group of shareholders in a family business filed several arbitration claims against another group of shareholders, as well as arbitration claims against the company regarding the nullity of corporate agreements, which arrived week after week. When these disputes arise, as Legal Manager, I have had to manage these claims in defense of the company, always respecting the rights of the shareholders (whether majority or minority), ending these conflicts after a thorough evaluation, through an out-of-court settlement whereby the company acquired the shares of the plaintiff shareholders, in pursuit of social welfare and business continuity for the company, which is currently a leader in the domestic and international market in its line of business.