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

In the past year, the Ecuadorian Oil industry faced a very difficult social situation, due to the uncontrolled position of the communities that surrounded the area of operations. As a result of the regional elections, and the weakness of the central government, the local leaders were at the forefront of large strikes and in some cases, influenced the operators to shut down crude oil production.

The challenge was to manage the tense situation with the communities, keep the operation stable, and avoid excess cost. We reached this goal in 202l by reaching positive agreements with the communities in Orellana and Sucumbios provinces.

How important is choosing to work with external lawyers who align with your company’s values? Are you likely to reconsider what firms you work with based on this?

It is very important to work with external lawyers that share similar values. In some cases, the external lawyers must agree on a responsible oil and gas operation that protects and prevents environmental liabilities. We had good experiences with Roberto Guevara, Julio Plaza, FBPH, and PBP.

As we live in a fast-paced world today, what skills will a corporate legal team need to succeed in the modern in-house industry?

One of the most important skills to possess is emotional Intelligence. This quality helps in organising internal teamwork and advising shareholders about certain decisions regarding the social environment and the laws associated with it.