Team size: 16

Major legal advisers: Holland & Knight, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Suarez Camacho Abogados.

Can you foresee any key developments to the way general counsel work over the next five years?

For me key developments to the way general counsel work need to address issues such as the balance between in the office versus remote work, considering the role of the in-house counsel as a key member of the business and the benefits of a personal interaction with other areas to this end. This, aligned with continuous development of soft skills of team members with a focus on becoming the trusted advisor to the business. Other matters such as health and wellbeing at work, and special attention and prevention of stress and burn-out are a must. This encompassed with talent attraction, since healthier working environments, personal time and fair treatment are part of the professional’s checklist.

What are some of the main trends impacting the industry sector you work in in Colombia?

The main trends impacting the oil and gas industry in Colombia are the regulation changes it faces due to the energy transition. On the one hand the general interest in advancing towards new and cleaner energy sources, and on the other, the decisions on cutting dependence on hydrocarbons. On the energy transition line, the industry has a key role in developing new energy sources projects that are high in capital commitments and technology. Gas is one of the energy sources that fuels the transition, and the industry has the know-how, the concessions, and the expertise in transport, distribution, and power generation. New regulations have multiple impacts on our industry: considerations on the contract rules that apply to current oil and gas operations, decisions on granting -or not- of new exploration and production contracts, decarbonization incentives, new tax burdens, additional rules on health, safety and environment for our activities, social viability of projects, and new ESG requirements. The industry has faced difficult scenarios in the past, and in definition of its new role in the energy transition, evolution is a suitable one.