About

NCR is a leader in banking and commerce solutions, and with its software, hardware, and portfolio of services, it enables transactions across financial, retail, hospitality, travel, telecoms and technology industries. Headed by Nicolás García Pinto, senior counsel of NCR covering Central and South America, the company’s legal team received praise from nominators for having ‘a uniquely dynamic and efficient approach’, and ‘extensive experience in corporate law as well as high levels of legal skills and dedication’, the team is also described as ‘a valuable asset to NCR Corporation’. Based in the city of Buenos Aires, García became the first regional counsel of NCR Corporation located in the city when he joined the company in early 2017, and is responsible for day-to-day legal support to Latin America countries excluding Brazil. All his predecessors with regional positions were based in other countries such as the US, Brazil or Chile. ‘I always try to contribute to the company considering the benefit of my location, and make an extra effort to support not only the region, but also local operations in Argentina. Our legal framework, political changes and regulation make Argentina an unpredictable country in many aspects, and it’s always good to have a regional lawyer with two hats (Argentine and regional) to support legal matters’, he explains. García has made a significant contribution via negotiating arrangements with external law firms to gain legal support in areas such as labour law and employment relationships, tax law, litigation, IP and data privacy and general commercial matters related to technology (both hardware and software). During the past few years, he and the legal team have been involved in litigation cases for NCR Mexico and have successfully obtained a reduction of 50% in claims during 2017. Prior to joining NCR Corporation, García spent over seven years at MetLife AFJP, one of the largest pension fund managing companies in Argentina, working as general counsel for Argentina and Uruguay. He notes the challenges he faced at the time: ‘The expropriation of assets and the nationalisation of the pension system during the government of Cristina Kirchner imposed a great professional challenge. As an in-house lawyer, I had to deal with unreasonable judicial and criminal actions against representatives of MetLife AFJP Argentina, as well as difficult negotiations with the national government in connection with the nationalisation, potential claims in CIADI against the Argentine Government, and many other matters related to the transfer of the assets subject to the nationalisation (basically funds in the individual capitalisation accounts of the affiliates for a total of US$25bn)’. García made his first move in-house in 2006, after working for Baker & McKenzie Argentina as a partner for eight years. Talking about this important career decision, he says: ‘After a careful consideration, I decided to change my career and become an in-house lawyer closer to the business decisions, and considering my vocation to serve as a support from legal to facilitate business activities on site’.