How do you approach managing legal aspects during periods of instability or crises, and how does your legal strategy align with the broader business strategy to ensure the organisation’s resilience?  

With serenity and based on risk assessment. As general counsel of a bank I have endured different crises, and it has been the risk assessment approach that has given an added value to overcome different situations. The legal strategy that I have been implementing on my team is based on anticipation and proactivity which gives us an edge when problems need to be addressed and contributes to the organisation´s resilience.    

What are the main cases or transactions you have been involved in recently?   

I was part of the launch of the first direct banking brand in the Colombian market, Pibank. This brand has disrupted the market with its promise of value, being a digital brand but with personal client attention. Through this brand we launched three new products in less than a year and are aiming to launch three more in the year to come. I would also include a very important transaction closed on December 2023, which consisted of a $60m credit facility under UK law with JP Morgan, that included an underlying guarantee of our parent company in Ecuador consisting of the “true sale” of multilateral bonds.   

What emerging technologies do you see as having the most significant impact on the legal profession in the near future, and how do you stay updated on these developments?  

One of the most important tools that I have been implementing in our daily activities is PowerBi. Data processing is essential for anticipation and having the necessary information to make informed decisions. This has presented a challenge for a team of lawyers who are more inclined towards words than numbers or data. However, it has transformed the way we comprehend what’s happening and enables us to react promptly based on data rather than waiting for legal risks to materialise. 

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?  

In my career I have worked with professionals from different backgrounds and views of life. Being general counsel my focus in team building has been to prioritise talent and potential over any other criteria, this has led to having a team full of young professionals with the drive needed to achieve what we are aiming for. Since this has been my approach, I have not centered on other criteria like gender, but curiously I lead a team that´s 80% women, but always looking for talented professionals to enrich the team´s diversity.