Career Biography

Samuel Vaisman is a senior Legal, Compliance and Corporate Affairs executive with over 20 years of experience leading enterprise-wide legal and governance functions across highly regulated industries, including mining and infrastructure.

He currently serves as General Counsel, Head of Corporate and Labour Affairs & Chief Compliance Officer at San Martín Contratistas Generales S.A., one of Peru’s leading mining services companies, where he acts as a strategic advisor to the Board and executive leadership on corporate strategy, risk management, and governance, contributing directly to business continuity, resilience, and long-term value creation.

Throughout his career, Samuel has consistently operated at the intersection of legal strategy and business execution, leading complex regulatory, financial, and reputational matters in high-stakes environments. He played a pivotal role in guiding the company through a critical crisis, designing and executing a strategy that preserved operations and directly enabled over $600m in new contracts and backlog.

In parallel, he has led complex international financing transactions, including a $125m syndicated loan under New York law and export credit agency-backed structures under English law, aligning legal strategy with financial and operational objectives in cross-border contexts.

His experience includes senior leadership roles at SalfaCorp, Hochschild Mining, Cementos Pacasmayo, and the Central Reserve Bank of Peru, giving him a uniquely broad perspective across both private and public sectors.

He holds an LL.M. in Banking and Financial Law from Boston University School of Law and has completed executive programs at the London School of Economics (LSE), UC Berkeley School of Law, and the International Law Institute (ILI), further strengthening his international outlook and expertise in corporate governance and cross-border legal frameworks.

In parallel, he contributes to the development of future legal professionals as a professor of Corporate Law and Mining & Energy Law at Universidad Científica del Sur.

Recognised in previous editions of the Legal 500 GC Powerlist Peru, Samuel is known for his ability to translate legal, compliance, and corporate affairs into strategic business drivers, acting as a trusted partner to leadership while safeguarding enterprise value and enabling sustainable growth.

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

A medium-term restructuring of a syndicated loan (current outstanding amount: approx. $90m).

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

In 2026, Peru faces presidential elections. This will bring political uncertainty. In-house counsel must be ready for regulatory shifts and economic volatility. After almost a decade of political instability, resilience is key. We must pinpoint which risks we can mitigate, like contractual terms, and which we can’t. With the U.S. dollar affecting local markets, we must ensure client contracts — especially dollar-based — have protective mechanisms to hedge exchange risk and currency volatility, safeguarding the company’s profitability. Our job is to foresee, assess, and embed safeguards — ensuring sustainability and profitability despite the volatility.

How can general counsel foster a corporate culture that supports ESG principles and compliance across all levels of the organisation?

ESG principles and compliance aren’t just theory: they evolve as part of a company’s reality. In my experience as General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer, I have learned that fostering that culture is about practice, not imposition.

First, you lead by example, taking a visible, firm stance on compliance. Second, you weave ESG values into decision-making, aligning incentives, tying performance to compliance, and ensuring ESG is part of the company’s DNA. The tone at the top is crucial here.

Third, you shape mindsets through continuous training and spaces for honest, open dialogue. Culture shifts when people understand the “why”—not just preventing issues but building lasting trust.

Finally, you adapt. Compliance grows with the company; it’s an ongoing journey of constant improvement that leads to tangible benefits. As General Counsel and Compliance Officer, I have had the chance to guide and be part of that evolution.

For instance, as Chief Compliance Officer of San Martín since 2018, I’ve faced high-stakes scenarios like the publicly known “Club de la Construcción” investigation. I had to engage with authorities, regulators, banks, bondholders, and clients to ensure the company’s viability amid significant reputational challenges. These real-world tests have shaped how I champion ESG and compliance — always evolving, always grounded.