Team size: Four

Country: El Salvador

Could you please tell us a bit about yourself?

I am an attorney and notary public in El Salvador; I graduated from Universidad Dr. José Matías Delgado with a master´s degree from Universidad Carlos III de Madrid. With 15 years of experience in corporate law, ten of those years, I have been at LifeMiles, Avianca’s loyalty programme, where I am currently the legal manager. In my current position, I am responsible for contract negotiation and management, corporate affairs, guidance in legal and regulatory issues and more.

Could you share an example of a time when you came up with an innovation that improved the way your legal team works and did not come at a large expense?

Having an induction and shadowing process for new team members has been very helpful, and in the long run, time effective. Not only in the strictly legal aspects but also in all other areas of the company, making sure new team members know at least the basics in the beginning and urging them to get involved and understand the business model.

What are some of the key developments (legal, geopolitical or otherwise) that have affected your business over the last year?

The pandemic certainly still has an impact on a lot of industries, but we are seeing a recovery that is very exciting for our growth, being the loyalty programme of an airline.

How do you think the in-house legal role will evolve in the coming years?

What I have experienced in my own role is that, as counsel, we are more involved in the business aspects of our contracts, and the issues presented to us. In the next couple of years, I see this increasing, and I think it is a great opportunity for legal counsel to grow by becoming partners with other areas of the company and providing a well-rounded service for our internal clients.

Do you use any legal technology products and, if so, what areas of your work do you find it most useful for?

When it comes to technology, the biggest help for us is the contract management tool we use. It makes generating and keeping up with our contracts easier, faster and more consistent.