About

Eduardo Gedeon has been with leading Brazilian construction group, Odebrecht, for 25 years, during which time he has worked with a number of the group’s 14 different business units, such as oil & gas, and in an array of jurisdictions, including African states. He is currently general counsel for Latin America for the business’ infrastructure unit, although this does not include Brazil and Venezuela, which each have their own general counsel. Having previously only visited countries as a specific project required, more recently the company has built in-house capability in most jurisdictions, a development in which Gedeon has played a significant role. Local counsel in each jurisdiction now handle all day-to-day matters, freeing him to attend to strategic issues such as concession and PPP agreements, and investment. Despite having over 50 lawyers across the region, he is clear that ‘we do not work in a law firm: this is not “a place for lawyers”, but rather a business environment with highly trained people from other backgrounds – economists, engineers, businessmen’. Our role is to facilitate the implementation of business strategies while reviewing all regulatory and compliance aspects so as to ensure there are no transgressions or conflicts. ‘The reality is’ he says, ‘that after many years, I truly believe there is no conflict. We have to point out the consequences of taking a particular route and suggest alternatives; balance, we have to find a balance’. Finding the way to do so, ‘being able to break a deadlock while maintaining all legal and compliance requirements’, he regards as ‘very satisfying’. Gedeon is similarly forthright as regards his requirements from external counsel; with multiple operations in process at any given time, ‘over-runs and additional costs are unacceptable’; as are insufficiently senior lawyers: ‘people who are not senior have trouble saying “Yes” since they are not sure; but, in a business scenario we need immediate decisions and it is only someone senior who can take those instant decisions’.