About

The Banking Association of Chile plays an important role in bringing together the domestic and international financial institutions that operate in Chile’s banking community. In addition to analysing new banking regulations and finding solutions to common problems in the industry, the organisation represents its members before an array of state bodies in order to facilitate change. General counsel Juan Esteban Laval is at the heart of this process having presented the arguments of the banking community before the Commission at the National Congress in the legislative process of several bills of law. Since joining in 2014, Laval has ‘developed a strong relationship with the general counsels’ of the banks associated to the organisation following excess regulatory developments that occurred after the current government took office. In successfully negotiating between the GCs and regulators, his approach has been to help develop sound public policies capable of being accepted. Also in his current role Laval heads a team of six and takes an active role in the discussions of relevant committees within the Banking Association. Immediately prior his current position, he was senior partner at the prestigious Chilean law firm Larrain, Rencoret & Urzua. Before that Laval was deputy general counsel of the Central Bank of Chile (CBC) from 2004 until 2012. In that in-house role he was an instrumental figure following the financial crisis in 2008, during which time led and advised the Board on the development of the legal framework regarding policies aimed at providing liquidity to the Chilean financial system. Moreover in another major career highlight, he led the CBC Fiscal Agency’s legal implementation in accordance to the Fiscal Responsibility Law, where he had to negotiate significant contracts with external managers and custodians, subject to foreign jurisdiction, which amounted to $20bn. Further demonstrating his expert skills in contracts, Laval was responsible for the legal matters relating to the management of CBC’s international reserves where ‘he had to negotiate sophisticated agreements subject to foreign law and jurisdiction’. Laval Zaldívar was senior associate with Carey, the largest Chilean law firm in Chile, from 1996 to 2000.