Can you give us an idea of the sort of work your team has done recently?

I have recently participated in a number of different transactions, including M&As, union and labour agreements and representation of the group in several agreements with government authorities. These different transactions are related with the current pandemic scenario that obligated our industry to adapted to this situation and to considerate such in events in the legal strategy to minimise risks in future cases.

What would you say are the unique qualities required to be successful as an in-house lawyer in your industry?

To be a successful in-house lawyer in the hospitality industry, some unique qualities are required: effective communication skills and an organised personality should be reinforced by being detail oriented.

Also, to manage properly day to day situations negotiations skills are important. Creative is valuable in order to adapt to the many changes of an industry that is in process of renovations, specially in the Dominican Republic.

If you had to give advice to an aspiring in-house lawyer or general counsel, what would it be and why?

My advice to an aspiring in-house lawyer or general counsel is to always to be open to new ideas in order to properly adapt to the many changes of the industry and of this fast-paced and connected world. Creativity is imperative, and because of that it is vital to be updated and properly informed of legal, business, and social events. Always keep reading and learning. A business-oriented mentality and for an in-house lawyer is essential to balance our role as a counsel and to be aligned with the corporate strategy.

To a young, aspiring female in-house lawyer my advice is to persevere in your goals despite the many obstacles that are present in a sector that is still structured conservatively. Show yourself with confidence. Always empathise with other female colleagues, we are all together on this career path.

What can law firms do to improve their service to the legal department?

As an in-house lawyer law firms in order to improve their service should always focus in customer service. Being available and approachable is essential. Between the in-house lawyer and law firms trust and confidence is key. Knowing that the law firm is accessible in case of any requirement gives the in-house confidence. Also, as in-house lawyers we can tell when we as a client are a priority for the law firm or not. During this time of pandemic what gave my more peace of mind was to know that a have the support of the law firms that I work with, whom I thank for representing the group in many daily situations that my team and I couldn’t make it for many reasons and considering the increase in load of work.

As well in-house lawyers we valuable creativity and problem-solving thinking. I recommend law firms be practical and concise when giving legal opinions, considering that sometimes the customer is not only the in-house lawyer but also the human resources department and the operations department. The opinions and recommendations should be in a practical and easy to understand language.