LATAM countries your role covers: Mexico, Peru, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago Venezuela, Argentina and Brazil

Bio

I was born in Algeria, where I completed part of my studies before pursuing further education in France and England. After a background in international arbitration, I joined Total Energies as a Legal Negotiator in Exploration and Production sector for the MENA region. I later transitioned to Snetor, an international trading group specialising in Plastic raw materials and Chemicals, where I am responsible for the US, LATAM, and MENA regions, handling contractual and corporate matters, litigation, legal advisory, and compliance.

What strategies do you employ to ensure your legal advice is effectively aligned with the unique regulatory environments and cultural nuances of different LATAM countries?

The strategy I have consistently employed is to strike a balance between several key elements. I prioritise engaging with local specialists who possess in-depth expertise in the legal and regulatory frameworks of each country. Their knowledge is invaluable in navigating the complexities of local legislation and ensuring compliance. Equally important is maintaining open and constant communication with the local business and logistics teams. This close collaboration allows me to gain a nuanced understanding of the technical and cultural specificities of each market.

Additionally, I believe that creativity is essential in developing tailored solutions that are not only compliant with local laws but also aligned with the specific needs of the business. By combining these approaches, I am able to craft solutions that respect local regulations and practices while ensuring they remain consistent with our group’s values and fundamental principles. Ultimately, this integrated approach allows us to achieve effective and sustainable outcomes across diverse regulatory environments.

What specific challenges have you encountered when managing legal issues related to Latin American markets from a European perspective, and how has your team addressed these challenges?

I would say that one of the main challenges I have encountered relates to my role as a compliance officer. Compliance is a rapidly expanding field, and aligning the various regulations specific to each country, be it becoming familiar with them, adhering to them, or ensuring ongoing compliance is particularly demanding. However, it is a challenge that I find incredibly interesting and one that can be effectively managed with the right tools, processes, and access to specialised expertise.

Another challenge lies in adapting to cultural differences, which is especially relevant when you come from a different part of the world with a distinct cultural background. But this is an enriching challenge, one that helps me grow both professionally and personally on a daily basis. Finally, distance and time zone differences are also factors that present some difficulty. While these obstacles are certainly manageable, they necessitate considerable flexibility in scheduling to ensure that legal issues are addressed promptly without disrupting business operations.