About

GlaxoSmithKline is one of the world’s leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies committed to improving the quality of human life. The company’s Costa Rican based legal team is led by associate general counsel and legal director Steven Alvarado who oversees a team of 15 and continues to reinforce a strong relationship with each member, while giving them ‘all the legal tools they need to become more effective contributors to the business’. Since joining the pharmaceutical company 14 years ago, Alvarado has created the legal department for Central America and has contributed to the establishment of its position as a strategic partner to the business. Over the years the team has reformed policies to make the legal department more effective, efficient and cost-conscious. Fully active on all matters at hand Alvarado says: ‘Generally, we were able to frame the legal department as a proactive group instead of a reactive group. So we try to avoid the fire instead of putting it out’. Under plans to expand their regional operations, GlaxoSmithKline announced the relocation of Costa Rica’s manufacturing plant in early 2017. With guidance from the legal team, employees will receive support from the company during the transition, to facilitate their reintegration into the labour market.