First, can you please give us an idea of the sort of work you have done recently?

Most of the specific work we do on a daily basis is confidential, but in general my department is in charge of everything related to corporate governance; we take care that the bank complies with the regulator, taxes, corporate documents and others. We work directly with the board of directors, the committees that support the board and with the shareholders. Our bank is a boutique institution where we make sure to provide the best and most personalised customer service possible.

The Bank is part of a group of companies belonging to the Rodríguez Copello family, so we also provide assistance to related companies.

How do you feel the pandemic has changed the world of work for in-house counsel and the function of the general counsel?

At least in my country, virtual meetings were not used frequently, and face-to-face meetings were normal. With the arrival of the pandemic this all changed. We adapted to this new culture and started board and committee meetings virtually, which has had a positive impact due to saving time and increasing comfort for most staff members.

Another very important change during the pandemic was the handling of requests in the tax departments, chamber of commerce and the regulator. Due to the pandemic, everything began to be handled virtually and is here to stay. This has greatly simplified our lives as lawyers.

How do you suggest in-house lawyers build strong relationships with business partners?

You must start with the basics. The most important thing is trust–a business relationship built on trust does not lead to failure. This is followed by the delivery and dedication that we put into our work, the attention to detail and the service to those internal and external clients. In general, all lawyers must be reliable, even if we are within a company, because we are its visible face to clients and regulators.

If you had to give advice to an aspiring in-house lawyer or general counsel, what would it be and why?

My advice would be to never stop studying. Times are changing rapidly, and we lawyers must be up to date and have the knowledge to know how to deal with eventualities that may arise in our company.

What can law firms do to improve their service to the legal department?

It is simple. In addition to doing a good job, communicating everything effectively and clearly with the client is key.

What would you say are the unique qualities required to be successful as an in-house lawyer in your industry?

In addition to knowledge, I believe the most important thing is to be a reliable and responsible person. Today these are values that are scarce; almost nobody has them, so the lawyer and any other professional who has these qualities has an assured future.