Team size: Three

Bio

Gabriel Tapia Calvino, LL.M. is a Panamanian lawyer with extensive and well-established regional expertise as a corporate legal advisor and compliance officer. He holds a bachelor’s degree in law and political science, a postgraduate degree in Senior Management, an LL.M. in International Commercial Law, a European LL.M. in Companies’ International Law, and a certification in the “Art and Science of Effective Negotiation for Lawyers” from Nova Southeastern University Law Center.

Throughout his career, he has demonstrated strong leadership and a results-driven approach in key legal and compliance roles within prominent multinational organisations. He began his career at Citibank, where he served as head of the legal documentation and collateral & securities custody department, managing critical legal and regulatory processes.

He then joined LG Electronics as regional legal advisor (assistant general counsel) and compliance officer, overseeing legal and compliance operations across Central America, Venezuela, Ecuador, Miami, and the Caribbean.

Building on this experience, he transitioned to Sanofi Aventis, where he held the position of regional legal support head for Latin America for more than four years. His responsibilities expanded as he took on the role of legal manager and regional legal business partner, overseeing legal operations across Central America, the Caribbean, Peru, Venezuela, Colombia, Bolivia, and Ecuador for nearly five years.

Following his tenure at Sanofi Aventis, he became the regional legal and compliance head at Servier Pharmaceutical, managing operations across Central America and the Caribbean.

Currently, he serves as regional legal director at Asofarma (Adium Group, an Argentine multinational), where he is responsible for leading and managing legal operations across Central America and the Caribbean.

What are the major projects or initiatives you have worked on that you are most proud of?

I can share about the following projects: first, we made a regional distribution scheme mapping and analysis of all applicable laws to each distribution relationship, to mitigate commercial and disputes risks; allowing the executive board to take informed decisions in regard to such distribution channels.; second implementing a standard service contracts framework; and third, implementing a contract management system.

What measures has your company taken to embed sustainability practices into its core business operations, and how does the role of the general counsel contribute to driving and ensuring sustainable practices within the company?

Implementing waste reduction programs all over the company, i.e. minimising single-use plastics and enhancing recycling (glass, paper, cans and TetraPaks). Also, implementing digital filing and Electronic Signatures for all internal and external documents. Furthermore, partnering with distributors, suppliers and contractors who share our sustainability values and strategies.

As a member of the Executive Committee, I have supported all related areas in their respective initiatives and practices, by prioritising their ESG projects and ensuring the legal feasibility of them.

How do you prioritise diversity and inclusion within your legal department, and what initiatives have you implemented to foster a more inclusive and equitable work environment?

Nowadays, “diversity and inclusion” is a very complex topic; because for years, in some companies, this topic has been only focused on certain minorities, without considering all others with the same grade of attention. After working for more than 15 years in multinational companies, I have learned that “diversity and inclusion” is a matter of equality (equal opportunities to all stakeholders without discrimination or reverse discrimination for any reason), respecting each other’s way of thinking and considering such different ways of thinking as an integrative tool for the success of the team. As a leader, I am committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable work environment and practices because I am convinced that this may lead us to better decision-making, innovation, and alignment with the communities we serve.

In your opinion, what are the main trends that are salient in your country currently (these can be legal, political, economy or business-based)?

In my case and considering my regional scope, I can elaborate in what is happening in Central America, as follows:

Several nations in the region face governance issues, including political interference in judicial systems and corruption. For instance, efforts to reform legal frameworks to enhance transparency are often undermined by weak institutions and political resistance. Electoral integrity and stronger rule-of-law mechanisms are critical priorities. On the other hand, while economic growth is forecasted to remain steady, regional inflation, and external factors like U.S. tariff changes are present risks, especially due to the expectation of governmental change in the U.S.

Moreover, the high migration rates (especially from Venezuela, Peru, Colombia & Ecuador, aiming to get to the U.S., crossing through Panama – “The Darien Jungle”) are driven by economic hardships, violence, and climate change. Addressing this issue requires brave multisectoral approaches, such as building climate resilience programs, reducing violence, and improving civil rights and liberties.