About

Currently based in Costa Rica, Steven Alvarado oversees a team of 15 in his role of associate general counsel and legal director for Latin America at GlaxoSmithKline. Since joining the pharma company 14 years ago, Alvarado has created the legal department for Central America and has contributed to the establishment of its position as a strategic partner to the business. He has also created and reformed policies to make the legal department more effective, efficient and cost-conscious. While describing his contribution to the company in general, Alvarado says: ‘Generally, we were able to frame the legal department as a proactive group instead of a reactive group. So we try to avoid the fire instead of putting it out. My policies in Latin America have benefited other regional departments as well’. Alvarado has received praise for his ability to mentor younger and less senior employees: ‘I like to have a strong relationship with them, and give them all the legal tools they need to become effective contributors to the business’, he says.