About

‘In today’s world, being a corporate counsel in the Latin American region is an enormous challenge’, observes Esteban Mazzucco, currently legal director for Latin America at specialised agrochemicals company Syngenta, and a former international senior corporate counsel at The Clorox Company. ‘Not only are there distinct norms and differing conceptions of economic and juridical models, but above all there are cultural differences which constitute a fundamental factor when it comes to taking business decisions’. In the face of such challenges, the notion of “accompanying the business” has become an operational maxim, leading him to introduce profound reform of the legal department, not the least of which he regards as providing on-going opportunities for professional development of his team. ‘It’s fundamental for accompanying the growth of the business’, he suggests, and as such, is a priority, but also a source of professional satisfaction. The result is a department that operates transversally, putting together multidisciplinary teams to attend different business units as required while ensuring the maintenance of a ‘systematic focus in line with corporate values and code of conduct’. Membership of the company’s executive committee is essential, a position which allows one to participate in the definition of priorities and obtain a strategic vision of the business ‘so as to be able to anticipate matters and add value’. ‘Deep knowledge’ of one’s local legal market is also a key tool in the general counsel’s armoury and integral to ensuring the provision of the best legal counsel to differing business units. Those firms which simply provide good service, he suggests, are remaining within their comfort zone, whereas ‘the dynamics of business in this region is such that added value comes from understanding a business and anticipating required solutions, it’s that which sets a firm apart’. It is easy to see why establishing a healthy work / home-life balance has proved one of those challenges Mazzucco has yet to resolve. In addition to his position at Syngenta, he teaches a Masters course in IP at the Universidad Austral; is a member of the board of directors of the Association of Corporate Counsel – Latin America (and a former President of its Argentine branch); and is also involved with the Pro Bono Institute, particularly the promotion of pro bono activity in the in-house community. ‘When it comes to doing business, integrity is fundamental to success. One not only has to promote the company values in the office but also live them and put them into practice’, he states, because ‘business ethics are everyone’s business’.