Can you tell us about your journey to becoming an in-house counsel? What inspired you to pursue a career in this field?  

Ever since law school, I knew I wanted to pursue an in-house counsel career, but little did I know it would be in an industry as rich in knowledge, yet as complex as the transportation industry. In the beginning, and like most of the lawyers with whom I have crossed my path, my goal was to learn about different legal matters and then choose one in which to specialise and dedicate myself to it; however, Navistar has given me the incredible opportunity to develop myself not only in one of the matters that I like the most, which is insurance law, but in many others that over time I discovered that I am also truly passionate about. 

In your role as an in-house counsel, what are the main responsibilities and tasks you handle on a day-to-day basis?  

In my role as legal and compliance manager at Navistar, I am responsible for different legal matters such as corporate, contract management, corporate governance and secretariat, regulatory compliance, anti-money laundering, securitisation compliance and general legal advice, along with the full-time responsibility to lead the team to growth and success. As a team, we never get bored! 

What are some of the key challenges you have faced as a rising star in-house counsel, and how have you overcome them?  

Being an in-house counsel for a big company, serving a large variety of internal clients focused on vastly different goals and aspects of the business, can lead to a perception of lack of service, or in hasty decision making. Therefore, having a trustworthy team, prepared and willing to go into battle with the mindset of growing and achieving common goals, is the most practical and efficient way to meet the internal client’s expectations while learning from the experience. 

What steps have you taken to enhance your professional development and expand your legal skill set?  

It is crucial to keep yourself updated and informed about upcoming changes in the industry or its applicable legislation that allow you to identify the challenges to come and therefore anticipate your preparation, either through study, reading, networking, and participation in different forums; and on the other hand, it is important to find trustworthy allies both inside and outside the organisation that complement your unique skills with theirs. Teamwork is always a differentiator, but when teamwork is conducted with people you consider your allies, the chances of achieving your goals increase exponentially.