What are the most significant cases or transactions that your legal team has recently been involved in?

Supporting the strategic choices of BNP Paribas’ Colombia is at the core of everything we do in the legal team. That is why we have been involved in negotiating several M&A mandates from sectors such as infrastructure, retail and insurance. This aligns with the objective that BNP Paribas must become a powerhouse for M&A in Latin America. We also have negotiated several derivatives framework contracts with MNCs to support one of the strategic pillars of the business in Colombia. We have helped negotiating different COP indexed loans and SLL indexed loans with Colombian clients booked in various jurisdictions.

What will be the main focus for the company in the next 12 months and how do you intend to assist with this?

Over the next 12 months, we will focus on supporting our clients locally and delivering the full suite of products BNP Paribas Group offers. We are currently working on a new payable product and a full range of complex, tailored-made solutions that fit our clients’ diverse needs. As Head of Legal, I actively get involved in multiple transactions and strategic decisions to identify and mitigate potential risks, as well as provide the best legal advice for BNP Paribas to achieve its goals while respecting our strict conduct and ethics standards.

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

Often, saying no is the easy answer. It takes courage and strategic thinking to find alternatives that support business growth and enable innovation while staying within an acceptable risk level. An excellent in-house lawyer should always be a partner that brings forth solutions designed to help clients while protecting the company.