Deputy legal director | KCSM Kansas City Southern de México
Assistant general counsel, Latina America | IPG Mediabrands and Kinesso
Corporate, labour and litigation legal affairs director | General Motors de México
Senior legal counsel – Mexican manufacturing operations, Andean and Caribbean entities | Emerson Electric
Deputy general counsel, head of wholesale legal and markets legal for Mexico and Latam | HSBC
Deputy general counsel Mexico and Northern Latam | Continental
Senior legal counsel - Americas region | HERE Technologies
Senior legal and compliance counsel | Element Fleet Management Corporation México
Group legal counsel region Americas | DNV
Senior corporate legal manager | Servicios Corporativos Javer
Legal counsel – upstream global commercial and exploration | Shell
Senior corporate legal manager | Restaurantes ADMX (McDonald´s México)
Latam senior legal counsel | The Coca-Cola Company
Counsel, senior manager | Mondelēz Snacking Mexico
Latam legal counsel | The Coca-Cola Company
Gerente jurídico de inversiones e innovación en sistemas de pago y remesas | Grupo Elektra
Deputy corporate and finance legal director | Grupo Televisa
Financial services legal manager | Walmart de México y Centroamérica
Senior counsel for Latam | Marathon Petroleum Corporation
Legal director | CBRE Global Workplace Solutions
Associate director, general lawyer - Latin America compliance focal point | Kyndryl México
Senior legal counsel and compliance officer | TC Energy
Head of legal | MPA - FIBRA Macquarie Group
Legal counsel corporate and investment banking | Banco Sabadell México
Employee relations generalist | H&M HENNES & MAURITZ
Senior legal manager – corporate and real estate | The Home Depot México
With immense pride, The Legal 500 presents the eagerly awaited second edition of GC Powerlist: Mexico Rising Stars 2023, dedicated to shining a luminous spotlight on the rising stars of in-house counsel based in Mexico. This edition takes you on a journey through the dynamic careers of these in-house lawyers who are steadily ascending the ladder of success in their field. It is an exciting offshoot from our regular research endeavors in Mexico, notably The GC Powerlist Mexico, our publication that celebrates the accomplishments of senior in-house counsel across the country.
This edition’s interviews not only showcase the key support provided by these emerging legal talents within their organisations but we were eager to uncover the remarkable journeys that have brought our rising stars to their current positions – from the moment they decided to embark on a career in law to the daily challenges they encounter in their roles. The counsel featured in this publication generously shared the steps they are taking to ensure their personal and professional growth within their respective companies.
Alessandra Marcarian, Assistant General Counsel, Latin America at IPGMediabrands and Kinesso, summed up her approach: ‘I have always been fortunate to have extraordinary mentors in my professional life. As an in-house counsel, I make sure I surround myself with mentors in different areas ranging from senior counsel, strategists, sales and account managers, top executives, and now publicists. By doing so, I learned to view obstacles and opportunities from various angles and to make recommendations suited to the scenario at hand. Curiosity is another trait that allows me to develop professionally and personally. The goal is to always learn something new. Every. Single. Day’.
Within the pages of this publication, you will find a rich tapestry of the challenges that rising stars have faced and continue to encounter in their daily roles. Ana Paula Rendón, Legal and Compliance Manager at Navistar Mexico, encapsulates the sentiment of our rising stars: ‘Being an in-house counsel for a big company, serving a large variety of internal clients focused on vastly different goals and aspects of the business, can lead to a perception of lack of service, or in hasty decision making. Therefore, having a trustworthy team, prepared and willing to go into battle with the mindset of growing and achieving common goals, is the most practical and efficient way to meet the internal client’s expectations while learning from the experience’.
Bibiana Isabel Rangel Osorno, Corporate, Labour, and Litigation Legal Affairs Director at General Motors de Mexico, shared her insights into facing change and adapting to new industry sectors and scenarios: ‘The main challenge for me has always been change. We, as humans, love to feel comfortable but in the legal corporate world that is just a hint that your growth is stuck. So, change enters as a key support in continued growing. Of course, it is not always easy or pleasant. Having to learn new tasks, new areas, familiarise yourself with the current projects and operations may be challenging and that is mainly due to the time this might take, but it is always a very satisfactory process. In my career I have managed different areas along the company, from purchasing and logistics, to finance, then to labour and criminal, corporate and sales, workplace safety, marketing, and the list goes on and on, and each time is a challenge, but it is definitely worth it’.
I invite you to delve into the fascinating stories and unique perspectives of Mexico’s Rising Stars in the in-house legal community, shared within these pages.
Lastly, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the in-house counsel featured in this publication, as they join the ranks of hundreds of Powerlisters worldwide, achieving remarkable milestones in your legal careers. It was indeed a pleasure to connect with you and learn about your incredible contributions to the legal realm.
Sara Maggi| Deputy Editor The Legal 500 GC Powerlist Series
On March 18th, the Legal 500’s GC Summit: Cyprus 2025 brought together leading legal professionals, in-house counsel, and industry experts for a day of insightful discussions on key legal and regulatory challenges. The event served as a platform for exchanging ideas, examining recent developments, and exploring best practices across various legal disciplines. Held at the Hilton Nicosia, the conference gathered nearly 100 legal professionals, fostering a day of enriching conversations and valuable networking opportunities.
The event was made possible in association with our esteemed partners: Harris Kyriakides, Elias Neocleous & Co and Hadjianastassiou, Ioannides LLC (member of the Deloitte Legal network). With their support, the Legal 500 curated a dynamic agenda featuring four insightful panel discussions, each designed to address pressing issues facing in-house counsel today.
The sessions began with a welcoming address from Francisco Castro, Research Editor at the Legal 500, who emphasised the importance of fostering meaningful dialogue among corporate counsel and strengthening connections within the country’s in-house legal community.
The first panel explored competition law developments, focusing on Cyprus while incorporating perspectives from Greece, the EU, and the UK. Moderated by Michael Kyriakides (Harris Kyriakides), the discussion examined recent M&As, enforcement priorities, and legislative updates affecting businesses. Panellists, including Hara Nikolopoulou (Hellenic Competition Commission), Angelos Stenimachitis (Compass Lexecon), Victoria Mertikopoulou (Kyriakides Georgopoulos), and Eleni Neoptolemou (Harris Kyriakides), provided valuable insights into risk mitigation strategies and compliance best practices. Attendees gained a clearer understanding of how evolving competition laws impact market dynamics and corporate decision-making.
The second session focused on the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) and its implications for financial institutions. Panellists discussed whether DORA enhances market resilience or imposes excessive compliance burdens. Moderated by Andrea Kallis Parparinou (Elias Neocleous & Co LLC), the panel featured insights from Emilios Charalambous, Michael Ioannou (both from Elias Neocleous & Co LLC), and Sofia Savva (Societe Generale Bank Cyprus), the latter providing insights from the financial sector. The discussion underscored how organisations can transform compliance obligations into strategic advantages, balancing regulatory adherence with business growth.
The third panel addressed the EU Pay Transparency Directive, emphasising its role in reinforcing equal pay and anti-discrimination principles. The discussion, led by Calliopi Nicolaidou (Hadjianastassiou Ioannides), covered key provisions, potential challenges in transposition, and the business benefits of pay equity. Contributions from Michalis Georgiou (Hadjianastassiou Ioannides), Lena Panayiotou (Cyprus Employers & Industrialists Federation), and Angeliki Fotopoulou (Coca-Cola HBC Greece & Cyprus) provided practical strategies for integrating compliance with organisational values, highlighting the directive’s far-reaching impact on hiring, compensation, and corporate culture.
The final panel discussion, moderated by Francisco Castro (Legal 500), explored the transformative role of AI in legal departments. Panellists Margarita Malai (GlobalDots), Evgenia Smirnova (TAPCLAP), and Stepan Chplakhyan (Smartcat) discussed how AI is reshaping in-house legal work, the ethical and regulatory complexities of AI adoption, and best practices for leveraging AI-driven tools. The session provided attendees with a roadmap for integrating AI while maintaining compliance and strategic alignment within their organisations.
Francisco Castro concluded the summit by thanking speakers and participants for their contributions, as well as the amazing audience in attendance. He reiterated the importance of ongoing collaboration within the legal community to navigate emerging regulatory and technological challenges effectively. The event wrapped up with an engaging networking lunch, providing attendees with an opportunity to connect and continue discussions in an informal setting.
The GC Summit: Cyprus 2025 successfully brought together industry leaders to discuss pressing legal issues, share expertise, and explore forward-thinking strategies. The discussions reinforced the need for legal professionals to proactively engage with regulatory changes and technological advancements, ensuring that legal departments remain key drivers of business resilience and innovation. The Legal 500 looks forward to returning to Cyprus and further strengthening its relationships with the country’s in-house legal community in the future.
