Puerto Rico 2024
Supported by the Association of Corporate Counsel
ABB Senior Legal Counsel, Central America and Caribbean | ABB
Chief legal officer | GENCO General Contractors
Director of intergovernmental affairs and senior executive advisor | AAFAF
Formerly chief legal officer and corporate secretary | Aerostar Airport Holdings
Chief compliance officer and general counsel | Parliament Capital Management
Chief operating officer, chief legal and compliance officer, vice president | Abarca Health
General counsel, vice president organisational development and human resources | Universidad del Sagrado Corazón
Chief financial officer and general counsel | RoofMaxx Technologies
Chief compliance and legal officer, country manager | Gamma International Bank
With over two decades of dedication to financial compliance and securities law, David Galarza-Sosa, Esq. is a recognized leader in the legal and financial sectors. As Chief Compliance and Legal...
General counsel and administrator | Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust
Ms. Díaz Rivera is Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Trust’s general counsel and administrator. As such, she advises the chief executive officer and the trust division managers of applicable regulations,...
Vice president and deputy general counsel | Triple-S Management
Frances M. Cifuentes Gómez serves as Vice President and Deputy General Counsel at Triple-S Management Corporation since 2022, where she brings over 15 years of distinguished experience in the insurance...
General counsel | Puerto Rico Telephone company - Claro PR
General counsel | Office of the Commissioner of Financial Institutions
General counsel | Metropistas
Mr. Guillermo Gil Díaz is currently the General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and Corporate Secretary of Metropistas, the largest public private partnership and the single private toll road operator in...
General counsel | Puerto Rico Office of Management and Budget
Executive vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary | MAPFRE Puerto Rico
General counsel | OFG BANCORP
Hugh González is General Counsel and Secretary, overseeing the company’s legal and compliance departments. Named to the position in 2021, he advises OFG Bancorp’s and Oriental Bank’s executive and senior leadership...
Senior associate general counsel and SIU director | First Medical Health Plan
Deputy director, contract administration CDBG-DR/MIT Program | Puerto Rico Department of Housing (PRDOH)
Committed to the public service of Puerto Rico as well as its reconstruction, especially after the devastation caused by hurricanes Irma and María, attorney Joel Hernández Alvarado has served as...
Chief regulatory officer | Genera PR
Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Katiuska Bolaños is an accomplished attorney with extensive knowledge of energy regulatory affairs. With years of experience, she currently holds the position of Chief...
Oversight manager for public corporations of the government of Puerto Rico | Puerto Rico Fiscal Agency and Financial Advisory Authority
Exective vice president, and chief legal and administrative officer | Evertec
In-house counsel and risk management director | Ryder Memorial Hospital
Partner, general counsel | Semillero Partners
In 2023, Natalia joined Rocana Venture Holdings to oversee legal and compliance. Rocana is a mission-driven venture capital fund based in Miami, dedicated to supporting entrepreneurs who create innovative and...
Vice president, general counsel and secretary of the board of directors | APEX (part of Grupo Mariposa)
Deputy General counsel | Financial Oversight & Management Board for Puerto Rico
Senior deputy general counsel and head of AML compliance operations | Santander US
Executive vice president, general counsel and secretary of the board of directors | FirstBank
Ms. Alvarez has been the Secretary of the Board of Directors of First BanCorp and FirstBank Puerto Rico since July 2020 and held the position of Assistant Secretary of the...
General counsel | Delphi Ventures
Sarah has fifteen years of corporate and securities legal experience, having worked in NY, DC and internationally. She has been actively involved in the digital asset space since 2017, founding...
The second edition of the GC Powerlist Puerto Rico celebrates the remarkable achievements of seasoned in-house legal professionals across diverse industries in Puerto Rico. As part of our GC Powerlist series, Legal 500 is thrilled to once again shine a spotlight on the capable Puerto Rican legal market. This publication highlights the exceptional abilities of in-house legal experts who are meeting their companies’ evolving needs.
In the face of complex legal landscapes and multifaceted challenges, these professionals consistently demonstrate excellence and resilience to leading their departments. Carla Framil Ferran, general counsel of Liberty, encapsulates this when she shares that her legal department “approaches our work in a creative, innovative, and passionate way, ensuring that legal considerations are seamlessly integrated into the business’s objectives.” This underscores how in-house legal teams act as critical partners in driving their organisation’s success.
The influence of these legal leaders often extends beyond Puerto Rico’s borders. Many are entrusted with guiding their companies through market entry strategies and operational matters across regions like Latin America and the Caribbean. Their ability to navigate diverse regulatory landscapes while maintaining high standards of legal expertise highlights their global relevance.
Moreover, their contributions transcend the corporate sphere. Numerous professionals featured in this edition are deeply committed to civic engagement and community enrichment. Luis Roberto, Director of Intergovernmental Affairs and Senior Executive Advisor, exemplifies this spirit, stating, “I am passionate about academic mentoring, teaching, youth empowerment, and encouraging public service.” This is a keen example of holistic impact these individuals have in both professional and personal lives.
It has been a privilege for Legal 500 to conduct research into this inspiring market once again. On behalf of our team, I extend heartfelt congratulations to all the exceptional legal professionals recognised in this publication. Your work sets a high standard for the global in-house legal community, and we are proud to celebrate your achievements.
On July 1st, Legal 500 unveiled the fourth edition of the GC Powerlist: Portugal 2026, in partnership with PLMJ. Hosted once again on the rooftop terrace of the firm’s Lisbon office under a blazing summer sun, the event brought together many of Portugal’s most accomplished in-house lawyers to celebrate this distinguished community of legal leaders.
Returning to its individual-focused format, this year’s edition marked the reintroduction of the Rising Stars category, recognising some of the country’s most promising emerging in-house counsel. It also saw the world debut of the Transnational Leaders category, highlighting general counsel whose leadership and influence extend beyond national borders and whose responsibilities span multiple jurisdictions.
The evening commenced with a welcome address from Legal 500’s editorial lead Francisco Castro, who emphasised the importance of continuously evolving the publication to reflect the realities of Portugal’s in-house legal market. He highlighted the rigorous research and selection process behind the GC Powerlist series and congratulated the honourees for their outstanding contributions to the profession and the organisations they serve.
Following this introduction, Bruno Ferreira, Managing Partner of PLMJ, took to the stage to congratulate those recognised in this year’s edition. In his remarks, he underscored the increasingly strategic role of in-house counsel in supporting business growth, navigating complexity, and driving legal excellence. He also reflected on the transformative impact that AI is having on the legal function and the opportunities it presents for corporate legal teams.
Concluding the formal proceedings, Alexandra Reis, Senior Counsel at Tabaqueira and a recipient in the inaugural Transnational Leaders category, shared a few reflections on the significance of recognising in-house lawyers and the value of fostering a strong, connected legal community. Drawing on her own experiences, she spoke about the importance of networking, knowledge-sharing and celebrating a profession whose contributions often take place behind the scenes.
The launch of the GC Powerlist: Portugal 2026 proved to be a fitting celebration of the country’s leading in-house legal talent. The evening showcased the depth, expertise, and influence of Portugal’s corporate counsel community while reaffirming Legal 500’s commitment to recognising and championing its achievements. We extend our sincere thanks to all those who participated in this year’s research process, and to PLMJ for once again partnering with Legal 500 to provide a platform that honours these exceptional legal professionals.
