About

As the general counsel of Cobre Las Cruces, the Spanish mining complex owned by First Quantum Minerals, Lorena García de Izarra’s defining task has been the transformation of the legal department from mere provider of legal advice to a business partner. ‘Prior to my arrival in the company the legal department had a rather reactive role. Now, we have full legal control over all decisions. We have put enormous effort into gaining technical, industrial knowledge to better contribute to the business. Now we understand the business and fully take part in the decision making’ she comments. Before moving in-house, García de Izarra had worked for two and a half years in the public law department of the market leading Spanish law firm Garrigues. During that time she was recommended to the Minister of Economy and she was offered a position in the cabinet, where she stayed for three years and specialised in public lobbying.