Team size: 11   

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

InterEnergy Group’s legal team, based in the Dominican Republic, is responsible for the comprehensive management of day-to-day legal affairs across various domains. These include regulatory, corporate, real estate, litigation, and intellectual property, among others. While we do engage external resources for specialised cases or transactions, our in-house legal team remains actively involved in the strategising, planning, and progression of these matters.  

Key cases and transactions our legal team has directly participated in include: The CEPM Zero initiative, aimed at decarbonising the CEPM’s concession area, which supplies over 65% of hotel rooms in the Dominican Republic. The objective is to establish over 600 MW in renewable energy projects, such as wind, solar, hydrogen, pump hydro, and BESS, by 2030; Oversight of loan agreements exceeding $200m with both international and local banks; Management of gas supply agreement transactions; Mergers and acquisitions involving two Mexico-based companies engaged in the electric vehicle charging station business; Successful negotiation of EPC and TSA, and acquisition of all necessary permits for a total capacity of 65 MW for two wind farm projects; Legal responsibilities associated with the international expansion of EVERGO, the electric vehicle charging station enterprise. This includes contract structuring, intellectual property protection, and other legal activities across the Caribbean, Europe, and Latin America. Presently, EVERGO operates in the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Chile, Panama, Uruguay, Paraguay, Aruba, Puerto Rico, and Mexico, with expansion plans in Spain and other countries; Participation in international arbitration (ICDR) concerning a dispute over the impact and consequences of the Covid-19 crisis on a Power Purchase Agreement; Local arbitration regarding a dispute over a toll payment; Led major litigation across a diverse range of cases.  

In essence, our legal team actively contributes to the efficient operation of InterEnergy Group and its subsidiaries, ensuring robust legal governance and risk management.  

How do you keep up to date with changes in laws and regulations relevant to your organisation’s industry?  

Staying current with changes in laws and regulations of the Dominican Republic that are relevant to our industry is vital for our success. We achieve this by participating in seminars focused on our industry’s legal landscape; maintaining robust relationships with relevant governmental and regulatory bodies, which grants us direct communication lines, keeping us informed about imminent legislative changes; and conducting routine research on pertinent legal developments. The latter enables our team to host training sessions whenever new laws or regulations are introduced, ensuring comprehensive understanding throughout the organisation.  

By executing these strategies, we ensure our company’s adherence to all applicable Dominican laws and regulations and guarantee preparedness for any potential future legal shifts.  

What is a cause, business related or otherwise, that you care about, and why?   

I am particularly concerned about the challenges posed by climate change, specifically as it relates to our industry. Given the increasing occurrence of severe weather events, there is potential for significant disruptions to energy production and distribution. This environmental volatility, coupled with regulatory shifts aiming to mitigate climate change, can create uncertainties for business operations.  

More specifically, there is an increasing global push toward renewable energy sources and the reduction of carbon emissions. While InterEnergy is already heavily involved in renewable energy projects, adapting to these changes while maintaining profitability and reliability of energy supply is a challenging balancing act. Staying ahead of these issues and evolving with the changing landscape is an ongoing concern that requires careful attention, strategic planning, and proactive decision-making.