Event Report
The Iberia GC Powerlist in Madrid was blessed with fine weather as we celebrated the launch of the third edition on the rooftop of the Casino de Madrid where some 130 guests from key corporates – including Vestas, Sacyr, Avon, Iberdrola, Hiscox, Microsoft, Paypal, Repsol, Danone, Dow Chemical, IKEA, Hispasat, Euskatel,Planeta, Google, La LIga, SGS, L’Oreal, Unilever, CEPSA and Grupo PRISA, among others – gathered to network with cocktails and canapés.
This year, The Legal 500’s Latin American editor Tim Girven opened proceedings with a few words of welcome and a review of the types of activities and events the Legal 500 has been rolling out in that region, as well as underlining the key role that Spain – and by extension, Spanish GCs – have in the continent. Jaime Olleros, managing partner of principal sponsor Andersen Tax & Legal then added his words of welcome before introducing the event’s guest speaker for 2018.
Following on from the presence last year of the then minister of justice, Rafael Catalá, this year the assembled guests heard a forthright presentation from José MarÃa Alonso, former head of Baker Mckenzie’s Madrid office and today both Dean of the Madrid Bar Association and President of Madrid’s Inter-profession Union of Professional Colleges (UICM); who mapped out a relatively strident position on behalf of the bar association, noting its desire to win back social respect for the role of the lawyer, and citing the important role that in house counsel would have in such a process.
As the sun dropped, the assembled invitees digested Don José MarÃa’s words and discussed common problems facing the in-house sector, best practice and in particular, team management issues. ‘Delighted’ guests spoke of ‘having a great time at the event’, noting that it was “a fantastic opportunity to meet with other colleagues”. One added that it “provide(d) me with a lot of energy and motivation in order to continuous improving the legal function!!!”
The Legal 500 would like to thank both principal sponsor Andersen Tax & Legal and associate sponsor, legal recruiter Iterlegis, for their patronage. Suffice to say that planning is already afoot regarding next year’s event with discussions considering the event’s relocation to Barcelona for a year, and the possibility of holding a panel discussion to provide increased content in a distinct format.