Countries in Latam your role covers: Mexico, Dominican Republic, Panama, Colombia, Perú and Chile

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

We are dealing with claims against a large tenant for damages suffered by one of our rented machines in Mexico due to an overturn arisen from excess of load beyond the manufacturer guidance.

This claim involved TPL insurance of both parties, lessor and tenant, as the damages were born as a result of wilful misconduct of the client, but they maintain the contrary; an error of the rented machine.

We have also been dealing with M&A of new local companies in Mexico and Dominican Republic to expand our distribution business.

The unusual business environment created by the pandemic has been swiftly followed by the Ukraine crisis, attendant supply chain costs rising and inflation. Are you now putting more emphasis on preparing for the unforeseen and, if so, what does this entail?

Fortunately, we have stocked an adequate number of equipment and machinery to respond to the high demand arising from the scarcity of products due to the breakdown of the supply chain and the increase in production costs.

What are your organisations plans in the Latam region over the next 12 months and how will your legal expertise help to achieve these plans?

Our strategy consists of inorganic growth taking advantage of the global market situation, focusing our operational growth on businesses without capex, especially the distribution, maintenance and training line of business and limiting our exposure to risk through contractual shielding of our commercial relationships. These are the main objectives of my legal department.