General counsel and institutional affairs vice president | Ternium México
Legal and compliance director | Holcim México
General counsel - Mexico and Southern Cone | Bank of America Merrill Lynch
Legal and HR director | Pan American Silver
Vice president legal México and North Latam | Linde
General counsel, government affairs, contract management, licenses, compliance and Latam | DHL Supply Chain
Director general adjunto juridico financiamiento, sector público | Banorte
Regional Legal Director Mexico & Central America and Caribbean | Reckitt Benckiser
Director Jurídico México y Centroamérica | Arcos Dorados
Vice president and legal counsel | Discovery Americas
Andrea Esquivel is vice president and legal counsel of Discovery Americas. She has more than 12 years of experience in corporate law, specialising in areas such as mergers & acquisitions...
Legal vice president and general counsel | PepsiCo International México
Chief General Counsel | Ideal (Impulsora del Desarrollo y el Empleo en América Latina)
Director legal and compliance | Empresas Aries
Chief legal and compliance officer | Catena Activos Alternativos
Dina Moreno is currently the chief legal and compliance officer of Catena Activos Alternativos (Catena). Catena was established in 2023 by a seasoned team from Credit Suisse Asset Management Mexico...
General Legal Counsel | Iké Grupo Empresarial
General counsel and compliance officer | Grupo Rotoplas
General Counsel, vice president regulatory and external affairs | AT&T México
General counsel and operations – legal, collections, HR, market intelligence, internal control, ESG | Acosta Verde
Head of legal/ chief of staff | Gaya Sinergia Constructiva
General counsel, director of legal affairs | Grupo Lamosa
General counsel for Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean | General Motors de México
General counsel, ethics, compliance officer and data protection officer North Latam | Capgemini
Legal director and public affairs Latam | Suntory Global Spirits
Managing director | Macquarie Asset Management
Director of legal services | Accenture
Head of legal and compliance Latam | The Vanguard Group
Vice president legal and compliance, assistant general counsel | Element Fleet Management Corporation México
Counsel, senior manager | Mondelēz Snacking México
General counsel Mexico | Compass Group Mexico
Head of legal advisory, corporate matters and contracts | AXA Seguros
Gerente legal fiscal contencioso y cumplimiento | FEMSA
Executive director - general counsel | RLH Properties
General counsel and compliance officer | Grupo Danone México
Vice President legal and government affairs México and North America | Continental Group Mexico
General counsel, secretary and chief compliance officer | Grupo Bimbo
General counsel | Promotora de Hoteles Norte 19
Directora jurídica, cumplimiento y enlaces normativos | Grupo Coppel
General counsel and compliance office | Federacion Mexicana de Futbol Asociación
General counsel nutrition Latam, México and CARICAM | Unilever de México
Legal and compliance director | Glisco Partners
Chief legal and compliance officer | GBM (Grupo Bursatil Mexicano)
General counsel México | Sizzling Platter de México
Vice president legal and corporate affairs | Grupo Modelo (AB InBev)
Senior counsel México and Rc emerging seeds Latam | Mars petcare México
It is with immense pride, and on behalf of everyone at The Legal 500, that I warmly welcome you to this edition of the GC Powerlist: Mexico. It has been a true privilege to interview the brightest legal minds in the country and gain insight into what defines exceptional in-house counsel, as well as the key issues shaping their work as some of the region’s leading corporate legal professionals. This publication is a tribute to the remarkable contributions these outstanding individuals have made to Mexico’s business landscape. It stands as a testament to their unparalleled expertise, exemplary leadership, and unwavering commitment to excellence.
One clear theme that emerged from this year’s research is the collective emphasis on teamwork and the essential role it plays in ensuring the success of a company. Many general counsel featured in this edition have underscored the importance of recognising and celebrating every member of their legal teams. As Juan Luis Rodríguez-Rivero, director of legal services at Accenture, shared: “In my experience, maintaining motivation and inspiration within a team is crucial. While not all tasks will be enjoyable, it is important to ensure that at least some aspects of the work are fun and exciting. We continually strive to find ways to motivate our team, with a significant focus on fostering enjoyment in their tasks. This is often achieved when the team commits to a goal they have set themselves, as this leads to greater dedication to their chosen work.”
This sentiment was echoed by Jorge E. Rodriguez Arellano, executive director of legal at Banco J.P. Morgan, who added: “A growth mindset is encouraged. We hold frequent meetings where every member of the team is encouraged to participate, share their challenges, and propose solutions. Every opinion is taken into account. Continuous learning is supported.”
Mexico’s business community is also rapidly embracing digital transformation, and its general counsel are leading this charge within their companies. José Eduardo Salgado Villegas, general counsel, ethics and compliance officer, and DPO for North Latam at Capgemini, explained the multifaceted approach necessary for ensuring the successful digital transformation of legal departments while adhering to Mexico’s data protection laws. As he noted: “The key elements of this strategy include comprehensive assessment and planning, developing a robust data protection and compliance framework, careful technology and vendor selection, training and awareness initiatives, ongoing compliance and adaptation, and close collaboration with IT and security teams.”
Within the pages of this publication, you will discover the incredible accomplishments of Mexico’s top in-house counsel, including insights into some of the largest deals and transactions they have overseen in the past year. Their profiles also provide a closer look at their personal journeys and the paths they have taken to success.
I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to every general counsel who participated in this edition of the GC Powerlist: Mexico 2024. This list celebrates the most impressive in-house lawyers in the country—those who have not only applied their legal expertise but also strategically leveraged it to drive business growth and success.
It is with great pleasure that I present this distinguished group of agile, innovative, and truly exceptional in-house counsel in Mexico.
Sara Maggi| Deputy Editor – The Legal 500 GC Powerlist Series
On Tuesday, September 24th, 2024, The Legal 500 hosted the Diversity and Inclusion Forum Switzerland 2024 in Zürich, in partnership with Schellenberg Wittmer.
The agenda included two engaging sessions focused on diversity and inclusion strategies and the transformative impact of age and background in shaping the legal teams of the future. The event fostered an informal atmosphere and encouraged active participation, allowing attendees to share their insights and questions, which enriched the discussions.
Sara Maggi, The Legal 500’s editorial lead for the Forum, kicked off the event with a welcome address, followed by Philippe Bärtsch, managing partner at Schellenberg Wittmer, who set the right tone for the day’s proceedings.
The first session, titled “unlocking talent and innovation through diversity and inclusion: strategies and best practices in legal departments”, was moderated by Anya George, partner at Schellenberg Wittmer. Speakers included: Markus Lang, general counsel, Europe West, at EY; Valérie Collaudin, general counsel and head of sustainability, at Gurit; Aziz Aidaros, vice president and associate general counsel, Europe, at Philip Morris International; and Nina Cronstedt, group chief legal and compliance officer, at Verisure. This session provided a platform for sharing innovative strategies and best practices that promote diversity and inclusion, drawing on real-world examples that have successfully positioned legal teams for future success.
The second session, “bridging generations and cultures: the power of age and background in legal teams of the future”, was moderated by George Ayoub, partner at Schellenberg Wittmer who was joined by Cornelis (Kees) Van Ophem, executive vice president and global general counsel, at Fresenius Medical Care; Sarah Chevalley, associate general counsel, at Lonza; Cyrill Bachmann, general counsel and secretary to the board of directors, at AMEOS Gruppe; and Marcella De Luca, senior counsel, at Deutsche Bank. The panel discussed how diverse perspectives—including gender, upbringing, culture, and age—enhance collaboration within legal departments, highlighting the value of these differences in creating effective teams.
Following the insightful sessions, attendees enjoyed a reception of drinks and canapés, providing an excellent opportunity for networking and further discussion. The Legal 500 was delighted to collaborate with Schellenberg Wittmer once again to bring this successful event to life and looks forward to returning to Switzerland soon.
