About

Banco Macro is one of the largest domestically-owned banks in Argentina. Owning the largest network of branches in the country, it offers financial services including loans and insurance to more than four million clients, covering both individuals and companies. With more than 20 years of experience, current general counsel María José Van Morlegan provides new resources to the legal department with a focus on banking and capital markets. Since assuming her position as general counsel, she has successfully created an in-house capital markets division, designed a clear career progression plan for legal counsels, and created KPIs to each position within the department. Leading a team of 70 lawyers across the country, she explains it is ‘very important to have a methodology applied on the development of each member, identifying the requirements of each position, rotation plan and succession plan’. During the last three years, her legal team has taken part in some notable transactions, including Advent’s acquisition of a 51% stake in Prisma Medios de Pagos, Argentina’s leading payments company, as well as a potential M&A deal of Citibank’s Argentine branch all of which she has overseen. Before joining Banco Macro in 2012, Van Morlegan had obtained vast experience by working for various institutions and law firms, including the National Social Security Administration, a decentralised Argentine government social insurance agency, where she managed 82 lawyers as legal affairs national director.