General counsel, senior vice president | Citibank El Salvador
Marcela Bernal
General counsel, senior vice president | Citibank El Salvador
Team size: three
What are the most significant cases or transactions you and your team have been involved in?
The pandemic did not disrupt our operations; instead, we were able to continue delivering impeccable solutions for our clients, preventing risks, and re-thinking the business in innovative ways. We have also closed bilateral and syndicated agreements in El Salvador and the Dominican Republic.
In what ways do you see the in-house legal role evolving in your region over the next few years?
The in-house role is constantly evolving, becoming a business partner who leads the business in operational areas in strategic planning and risk prevention — consistently providing solutions and creative alternatives in all areas.
In a changing financial landscape, how does the company remain competitive against new phenomena such as fintech and blockchain, and how does the legal team assist with this?
The legal team is crucial in accompanying the business and providing risk analysis and solutions to mitigate potential disruptions in a constantly changing environment. In El Salvador, the BTC has been recently approved, and the role of the legal team had a pivotal role in carrying out the meticulous analysis and assessments in order for it to be ready.
General counsel, senior vice president | Citibank
General counsel, senior vice president | Citibank
General counsel and senior vice-president | Citibank
Marcela Bernal de Fontanals joined Citi El Salvador in 2000 as a legal assistant for the corporate bank, when Citi’s presence was limited to a single branch office and two...