Corporate counsel and company secretary | Vencorex France
Senior legal counsel, Iberoamerica | Securitas - Security Services Ibero America
Senior legal counsel, EU and LATAM | Eiffage Energía Sistemas
Global head of legal and secretary general | Secuoya Content Group
Legal counsel, concessions division | OHLA Group
General counsel, Iberoamerica | Securitas Seguridad España
Vice president and deputy general counsel, international legal (EMEA, APJ, LATAM) | Hewlett Packard Enterprise
Senior regional legal manager, Brasil, HispAm and global projects | Telefónica
Senior legal director Europe, Turkey and Africa, CIS and LATAM | Oriflame Cosmetics
Group head of legal and compliance and company secretary | PetrolValves
Chief legal officer and public affairs director | Acciona
Vice president, deputy general counsel, EMEA | Baxter International
Legal counsel and board member | Ferrovial Airports International
General counsel and secretary of the board of directors | Hispasat
Legal director, Spain and LATAM | INTELCIA
Head of legal, Iberia, Italy and LATAM | Majorel
Senior director, associate general counsel, head of legal EMEA and LATAM | Adobe
Legal counsel and general secretary | Grupo Ortiz
Senior director, legal and compliance | Llorente y Cuenca
Legal director | Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas
Legal director, concessions division | OHLA Group
Global counsel, regulatory compliance and disputes | Spotify
Group executive committee member, group general counsel and commercial and contract management | Capgemini
General counsel and company secretary | REN - Redes Energéticas Nacionais
Legal and finance director | Depuración de Aguas del Mediterráneo
Senior vice president, compliance and data protection, International | Fresenius Kabi
General counsel and head of compliance | Eurodivisas (Global Exchange Group)
Associate general counsel, head of legal for Europe, MEA and APAC | Sonova Group
Legal counsel, project finance | Sacyr Concesiones
Group general counsel and company secretary | Distribuidora Internacional de Alimentación
Senior legal manager, Spain, Portugal and LATAM | Astellas Pharma Europe
Legal manager and compliance officer | UBE Corporation Europe
Lead legal counsel, M&A and corporate | NTT Data Europe & LATAM
Head of legal, procurement global contrats and tenders | Enel Group
Vice president, head of legal, Middle East and Africa | Stellantis
General counsel, beauty and wellbeing LATAM, head of legal and data privacy leader, LATAM | Unilever
Executive vice president, general counsel international markets | MasterCard
Head of legal Santander Corporate & Investment Banking Germany, Austria, Switzerland & Nordic countries | Banco Santander
We are thrilled to present to you the inaugural GC Powerlist: Europe Latin America Specialists 2023. This eagerly awaited publication marks a significant milestone, building on the success of its predecessor, 2022’s GC Powerlist Spain: Latin America Specialists.
This new release is a testament to the continuous commitment of recognising and celebrating the outstanding accomplishments of Europe’s leading in-house lawyers who dedicate their efforts to the dynamic and challenging Latin American markets.
As the legal landscape continues to evolve and globalise, the role of in-house lawyers becomes increasingly pivotal in navigating the complexities of international business. The focus on Europe’s top in-house lawyers with a specialisation in Latin American markets underscores the strategic importance of this region in the global business arena. Latin America, with its diverse economies, regulatory frameworks, and cultural nuances, presents unique challenges that demand specialised expertise.
The publication not only highlights the professional achievements of these lawyers but also serves as a platform for acknowledging their expertise in dealing with the intricacies of cross-border legal matters. Whether it’s managing mergers and acquisitions, navigating regulatory compliance, or addressing cultural considerations, these legal professionals play a crucial role in facilitating successful business operations between Europe and Latin America.
A key takeaway from our the exclusive content within the publication is that Latin America is a region with a rich and diverse cultural tapestry, and this diversity extends to the ways in which business is conducted across various countries. As brilliantly put by Enrique Rubio Ayala, senior regional manager at Telefónica, “Culture across Latin American countries is enormous. It is reflected in different the ways to work and different business tactics”. On this, Leandro Meneses, general counsel at Duro Felguera also states that “[t]he legal landscape in Latin America is very diverse, and each country has its own unique set of laws and regulations.” In all while it’s important to recognise that generalisations might not capture the nuances of each nation’s business culture, there are some common trends and characteristics that are often observed, essential to the way in-house lawyers conduct their operations in the region.
As businesses continue to expand globally, the need for legal expertise in navigating diverse legal systems and business environments becomes paramount. The GC Powerlist publication plays a crucial role in shedding light on the achievements of those at the forefront of this legal frontier, contributing to the broader dialogue on the intersection of European and Latin American legal practices.
There are many other relevant topics and challenges exclusively discussed in this publication, so we invite you to explore The GC Powerlist: Europe Latin America Specialists 2023 and discover the extraordinary stories of these exceptional individuals.
We would like to express our gratitude to all the in-house lawyers featured in this publication for their valuable contributions and for sharing their journeys with us. I am delighted to present to you this distinguished list of Europe’s most exceptional, diligent, and celebrated in-house lawyers with a focus on Latin American markets.
Francisco Faria e Castro | Lead researcher
For the third consecutive year, Legal 500 partnered with Red Legal Iberoamericana to celebrate the very best in-house counsel from across Europe who dedicate their efforts to the vibrant region of Latin America. In fact, these lawyers possess a unique set of skills that enables them to navigate the challenges and diversity of Latin America in an agile and well-versed manner.
The event took place at the Hotel Wellington in the elegant city of Madrid, Spain, on 7th November 2024. Attendees were welcomed by Sara Maggi, senior editor — research and content at Legal 500, who congratulated all the powerlisters for their contributions to business across Latin America and emphasised the importance of recognising such exceptional lawyers.
Julio Veloso, partner at Broseta Abogados, then took the stage. After offering his congratulations, he invited Alejandro Sainz, senior partner at Sainz Abogados, to join him on stage. They reiterated their pride in sponsoring this research and publication, which recognises unmatched talent.
Santiago González Pérez, vice president and senior employment counsel for EMEA at American Express, shared an in-house perspective on the challenges of working in-house and managing client expectations while operating in a business environment. He also highlighted the importance of being recognised by such prestigious publications.
The evening continued with a cocktail reception featuring drinks and canapés, alongside networking opportunities between talented peers. The event was a great success, and we look forward to next year, as we continue to recognise the efforts of Latin American specialists based across Europe.
