Uruguay 2024
Supported by the Association of Corporate Counsel
Adscripta a la gerencia in Banca Mayorista | Banco Itaú Uruguay
Chief compliance officer | Puente Corredor de Bolsa
Legal coordinator of financial alliances and resource mobilisation | CAF – Banco de Desarrollo de América Latina y el Caribe
Deputy general counsel | Corporación América Airports
Legal and compliance manager of Uruguayan operation | CBC INTL (Grupo Mariposa)
Senior Counsel (lead counsel/legal manager for Paraguay) - Chief Compliance Officer | Peninsula Investments Group
Gerente de Legales, Compliance y Asuntos Regulatorios | GDN UY
Corporate Vice-President Legal, Compliance, Operational Risk, and Information Technology | SURA Asset Management
Senior Legal Counsel/ Security Services Iberoamerica | Securitas Uruguay
Corporate lawyer | Winterbotham Fiduciaria Administradora de Fondos de Inversion
Head of legal, sustainability and corporate affairs | Softys Uruguay
Legal, risk and compliance director | Securitas Uruguay
General counsel and contract manager - compliance officer | CIEMSA
Head of legal, compliance and public policy lead - Uruguay, Bolivia & Paraguay | Roche International
Bruno Bertolotti is head of legal and compliance, and leads the policy team at Roche for Uruguay, Bolivia and Paraguay. He has over 13 years of experience working in the...
Legal director and insitutional relations | Corporación América
Abogada principal y coordinadora dirección de asuntos legales de tesorería y pasivos | CAF – Banco de Desarrollo de América Latina y el Caribe
Cecilia’s professional practice has focused on corporate, contractual, banking, and financial markets areas. She has advised various national, international, and multilateral companies on matters related to the capital markets, including...
General counsel | Peninsula Investments Group
Gaston is the general counsel of Peninsula Investments Group. He has over 14 years of experience, earned his L.L.M. from Columbia University (New York) and his J.D. from the Universidad...
Legal and contract management manager | Consorcio Constructor Ferrocarril Central
Director of institutional relations and regulation | Telefonica Uruguay
Director of legal affairs | Perficient Latin America
Legal manager | Compañía Forestal Uruguaya (COFUSA and Urufor)
I am thrilled to present, on behalf of The Legal 500, the latest edition of the GC Powerlist: Uruguay. This eagerly awaited publication celebrates the exceptional achievements of the nation’s leading in-house lawyers.
This edition showcases the significant impact of in-house counsel on businesses in Uruguay, emphasising their expertise, leadership, and unwavering dedication to excellence. This year’s edition celebrates their remarkable achievements and inventive strategies as they navigate an ever more intricate and demanding landscape.
Readers will find detailed profiles and exclusive interviews with the most esteemed and influential in-house lawyers from diverse industries in Uruguay. These professionals exhibit remarkable expertise in shaping legal strategy, managing risks, and delivering strategic guidance to their organisations. Their accomplishments not only serve as an inspiration to the legal community but also highlight the crucial role in-house lawyers play in driving their companies’ business strategies and overall success.
Our research focused on highlighting the pivotal role of legal departments in safeguarding their organisations against instability and crises. As José Juan Gari Schauricht, Director of Legal, Risk, and Compliance at Aiva, notes, “I view crises as opportunities for organisational growth. For legal, compliance, and risk management teams, they represent moments to shine in environments where other departments, such as sales, often take the spotlight. To excel, it is crucial to align with the company’s overarching strategy and senior management. Understanding business objectives allows us to identify potential risks before they arise and to regularly develop and update crisis scenarios. Furthermore, outlining possible issues and integrating action plans within the organisation’s overall crisis management strategy is imperative. During a crisis, teamwork and communication—both internal and external—are essential, alongside ensuring compliance and collaboration across teams. Strong leadership skills, in conjunction with legal expertise, are crucial for maintaining stability.”
Our findings also emphasise the ongoing need for enhanced risk assessment and management, as well as improved communication with other departments to build organisational resilience. Carolina Rodríguez Zunino, Deputy General Counsel at Corporación América Airports, aptly describes the situation: “The legal landscape can shift rapidly during crises, often due to significant changes in legislation or the introduction of urgent regulations. I prioritise flexibility in our legal strategies and continuously map the situation in the countries where we operate, evaluating how our peers are responding […] It is also crucial to share as much information as possible with our team and colleagues in other areas, as well as to clarify the rationale behind significant decisions or those affecting the team or the company. Ultimately, collaborating closely with management ensures our legal approaches align with the company’s objectives, contributing to resilience and long-term success.”
Within this publication, readers will find exclusive content addressing various pertinent topics and challenges faced by Uruguay-based in-house lawyers and their teams. Through their experiences and insights, we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the legal landscape in Uruguay, highlighting the indispensable role played by in-house legal teams.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the featured in-house lawyers for their invaluable contributions and for generously sharing their professional journeys with us. We are proud to present this distinguished list, showcasing Uruguay’s most outstanding, dedicated, and celebrated in-house lawyers.
Sara Maggi| Deputy Editor – The Legal 500 GC Powerlist Series
On Tuesday 16th September 2025, Legal 500 returned to Zürich to host the Diversity and Inclusion Forum: Switzerland, in partnership with Schellenberg Wittmer. The event consisted of insightful discussion, focusing on what diversity and inclusion mean in today’s world and how in-house counsel can put these principles into practice. The forum took place at the historic Zunfthaus zur Meisen – notably, the first guild to admit women as members, as was highlighted during the evening.
The evening began with a welcome address from Isabel Caine, Event Content Editor at Legal 500, who spoke to the continued importance of spotlighting diversity and inclusion in the current geopolitical environment – the need to continually apply and reapply, learn and relearn what we know about these topics as organisations adapt to today’s rapidly-changing climate.
Anya George, partner at Schellenberg Wittmer, then took to the stage, echoing these sentiments and highlighting the importance of diversity and inclusion to the firm.
Next, Karin de Witt, Director of Ethics, Compliance and Investigations at Lonza, delivered the keynote speech. Her lively and thought-provoking address set the tone for the evening’s discussions.
The first session of the evening, ‘AI in hiring: reducing or reinforcing bias?’, was moderated by Caroline Clemetson, partner at Schellenberg Wittmer. The panel was made up of Nora Rümbeli, Group Head Legal & Compliance Tech, Data & AI and Group DPO at VONTOBEL; Renate Lichtenegger, Chief Legal and Compliance Officer at Pocket App; Liliana Correia, Legal Counsel and HR Head at Swiss AI AG; and Thomas Schönholzer, General Counsel at The Swiss Post Ltd. The panelists engaged in an animated discussion regarding the pros and cons in-house counsel must consider if using AI to aid the recruitment process, from budget restraints and data protection issues to potential bias and the human element essential to hiring.
In light of recent social and political developments on a global scale, the second panel was entitled ‘Growing pressure on diversity and inclusion programs: balancing company values with compliance’. Moderator George Ayoub, partner at Schellenberg Wittmer, was joined on stage by Sandrine Wait, VP Head Legal Global M&A and Finance at Adecco Group AG; Ingrid Sollerer, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer and Executive Committee Member at Sandoz; and Rita Portmann Witmer, Head Legal WM Zurich at BNP Paribas (Zurich Branch). The panel considered how organisations’ diversity and inclusion initiatives may be affected by recent geopolitical changes. The panelists spoke passionately about how in-house counsel can best navigate these circumstances, ensuring that business continues but that employees’ voices are heard and company values are upheld.
The inclusive atmosphere encouraged audience engagement, with attendees posing insightful questions and interacting with the panelists, before Caroline Clemetson rounded off the evening with closing remarks.
Attendees and panelists then continued conversation and networking, while enjoying drinks and canapés. Legal 500 was honored to partner once again with Schellenberg Wittmer to provide a platform for these critical discussions.
