What are the most significant cases or transactions that your legal team has recently been involved in?

J.P. Morgan has participated in almost all relevant transactions in Latin America in the past years. The legal department has played a significant role in ensuring compliance with securities laws and regulations in several M&A, capital markets offerings assisting Latin American companies raising capital, secondary offerings, bond issuances, and other capital market transactions.

On the non-transactional side, regulatory compliance has been an area of focus, as well navigating a complex regulatory environment, including anti-money laundering (AML) regulations, foreign corrupt practices, and local securities laws. In Chile, in particular, the team has been up to date in analysing the effects of the constitutional process and the prospective tax and pension reforms, which may have impact in the locales business.

Why are in-house lawyers well-placed to drive change in their organisations?

In-house lawyers have a deep understanding of their organisation’s operations, structure, and culture. This knowledge allows them to identify areas where change is needed and propose tailored solutions that align with the organisation’s goals and values. In-house lawyers often serve as strategic business partners, working closely with executives, management teams, and various departments within the organisation. They have the opportunity to collaborate with stakeholders across different functions and leverage their legal insights to influence decision-making and drive change from within.

Also, because of cross-functional collaboration, they frequently collaborate with teams across the organisation, including finance, human resources, operations, and marketing. This cross-functional exposure allows them to identify areas for improvement and propose changes that have a broad impact on the organisation’s processes, policies, and overall performance.

Long-term perspective is relevant as well, as they often have a long-term perspective on legal and regulatory matters. They can anticipate potential legal issues and propose proactive measures to avoid future problems. By considering the organisation’s long-term interests, in-house lawyers can drive change that promotes sustainability and resilience.

Overall, in-house lawyers are uniquely positioned to drive change in their organisations due to their legal expertise, cross-functional collaboration, strategic partnerships, and comprehensive understanding of the organisation’s dynamics. By leveraging these strengths, they can actively contribute to shaping their organisation’s policies, practices, and culture to adapt to evolving legal regulatory, and business landscapes.

How do you suggest in-house lawyers build strong relationships with business partners?

Building strong relationships with business partners is crucial for in-house lawyers to effectively collaborate, influence decision-making, and drive positive change within an organisation. It takes time and effort, requires consistent engagement, active listening, and a genuine desire to support business partners. By adopting a collaborative and solution-oriented approach, in-house lawyers can cultivate relationships built on trust, credibility, and mutual respect.

Having a collaborative mindset is crucial; approach interactions with a collaborative mindset, emphasising teamwork and a shared goal of supporting the organisation’s success. Show a willingness to work together, listen actively to others’ perspectives, and seek common ground.

Take the time to understand the business operations, objectives, and challenges faced by your business partners. This knowledge enables in-house counsel to provide more relevant and practical legal advice that aligns with their needs and contributes to their success. Stay up to date with legal and industry developments that impact business partners. Share relevant insights, updates, and trends that could affect their operations or strategies. Being a proactive source of information positions counsel as a valuable resource and strengthens relationships.