It has been a pleasure to finally shine a light on the talented, professional and highly innovative in-house lawyers based in The Dominican Republic. As lead researcher for this Powerlist, it was a pleasure and privilege to be able to interview the brightest in-house legal minds in the country, and delve into what makes a great in-house counsel and what is on the forefront of their minds as some of the leading corporate counsel in the region. Our interviews touched on a wide range of topics, and as an introduction to the profiles listed within these pages, I have summarised some of the most instructive excerpts below.

Dominican GCs have emerged from the Covid-19 pandemic strongly and have taken on expanded roles that place them well within the corridors of power at their organisations. This dynamic was succinctly summed up by Giselle Marie Leger Lora, general counsel of AES Dominicana: ‘Our role has become more strategic and advisory over the course of the Covid-19 pandemic, as quick decision-making was required in a climate of continually changing scenarios… in-house lawyers have taken part in decision-making at the highest levels of their organisations’.

Most in-house lawyers we spoke to were in agreement that the world of work has now changed irreversibly. ‘Although at the beginning of the pandemic going virtual was a stressful, there is now no turning back. Remote working has now been proven to be a valid way to run some businesses’, said Yissel De Leon, corporate legal manager of AERODOM. Pedro Javier Sepulveda Mingues, legal manager of Banco Multiple, pointed to the major change in how they deal with tax departments, the chamber of commerce and the regulator, highlighting the major changes across society that virtual working has heralded: ‘Due to the pandemic, everything began to be handled virtually and is here to stay. This has greatly simplified our lives as lawyers.’

Going beyond the technological innovations directly related to the pandemic, there has also been an increased focus on data protection matters. As Ana Maria Estrada Baez, legal and compliance director of The Stock Exchange of the Dominican Republic put it, ‘Now, more than ever, it is necessary to apply a robust legal framework in terms of information security, with the objective of preserving accessibility, confidentiality and integrity of the information, since information has become a critical asset for institutions across all industries.’

I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to every single general counsel who participated in this first-ever edition of the GC Powerlist: Dominican Republic. Included within these pages are the most impressive in-house lawyers within the country, those who have utilised their legal knowledge strategically to provide business insights and contribute to their company’s success.

I am extremely pleased to present this list of the most agile, innovative, and exceptional in-house lawyers in The Dominican Republic.

Joe Boswell | Lead researcher | GC Powerlist Series

It is an honour for Pellerano & Herrera to host the launching of the first GC Powerlist for the Dominican Republic. Through this Powerlist, the vital contribution of general counsel to the strategic direction and growth of their organisations and their sectors is recognized.

We congratulate all GCs on their recognition in the Powerlist as they are key players in their respective companies, for formulating key strategies and developing innovative solutions for complex legal and business matters, as they play an increasingly important role in today’s business environment. General Counsel today are more than “just lawyers” as they bring to the table a skill set and in-depth knowledge of the businesses and industries in which they operate that go far beyond their legal experience.

For our firm, sponsoring this event is of great significance since Pellerano & Herrera has always been a promoter of the development of the legal profession in the Dominican Republic and has played a transcendental role in the training of legal professionals in the country.

Pellerano & Herrera was a pioneer in joint launching the first master’s program in Legal Practice alongside a leading university in the country, graduating over 50 professionals in five years and additionally launched the first and only alumni program to date, being the alma mater of over 500 lawyers who have stood out in private practice, in the judicial spectrum and as GCs, many of whom are recognised in this year’s GC Powerlist.

We commend the Legal 500 for carrying out a comprehensive analysis of the Dominican legal industry, with the depth, objectivity and great knowledge of the market that have always characterised this publication.