About

‘He is a very competent general counsel who manages a broad range of issues with creativity and innovation. Working with him on complex matters is simply a privilege’, one source says when describing J.P. Morgan’s Alejandro Rubilar. Described as ‘one of the most experienced, innovative and hard-working general counsel’ in the financial services industry in Chile, Rubilar joined J.P. Morgan in 2008 and currently serves as senior country counsel. Arriving at his current employer with a wealth of technical expertise attained within the financial sector in Latin America and the US, Rubilar was presented with the challenge of managing a legal function facing a number of challenges when it comes to coordinating regional work on projects. He says: ‘The ongoing challenge is ensuring appropriate and accurate coverage acting as trusted advisor for the business while at the same time motivating people, fostering colleagues’ careers, not only with respect to direct reports but contributing to the development of the legal department as a whole’. Balancing business needs with the control and oversight agenda, while safeguarding relationships with regulators requires a continuing rethinking of the role of a lawyer. Forced to redefine its strategic priorities due to increasing regulation and the changing market practices on transparency and compliance, J.P. Morgan’s senior management is increasingly turning to the legal department. ‘While transactional activity continues to be critical, focus on implementing regulatory changes, adequate mapping of applicable rules and laws and strengthening controls, supervision and escalation protocols are the name of the game’, Rubilar asserts. Prior to joining J.P. Morgan, Rubilar worked as head counsel for corporate banking for nine years at Citibank, N.A. and as an international associate with Shearman & Sterling, based in New York.