Can you tell us about your journey to becoming an in-house counsel? What inspired you to pursue a career in this field?  

For most of my career, I worked as an external counsel in various law firms, mainly focused on transactional and commercial matters including M&A, capital markets and commercial agreements. Nevertheless, I regretted not remaining in close proximity to the client’s operations to witness how the transactions I diligently facilitated contributed to their broader objectives and achievements. It would have been beneficial to ascertain the success of these transactions post the customary integration process. Because of that, my interest for in-house counsel began to grow. I also wanted to be involved in matters of other areas of law which I normally did not participate in, which is a key demand of in-house legal work. 

In your role as an in-house counsel, what are the main responsibilities and tasks you handle on a day-to-day basis?

I am in charge of managing the litigation portfolio of the company, which entails coordinating external law firms and internal departments to effectively answer claims and lawsuits as well as to define strategy to handle sensitive cases, and avoid new litigation based on take aways and lessons learned from prior experience. 

Another of my responsibilities is handling the legal issues related to the corporate product line of the company, which entails drafting and negotiating a wide array of commercial agreements with clients, business partners and key vendors. I also provide legal guidance and advice to various departments in connection with new products to be launched and improvements to existing products to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations and contractual terms and conditions.  

Finally, I assist the compliance team with anti-money laundering (“AML”) issues, to prepare and implement policies to identify and prevent money laundering and financing terrorism. 

What are some of the key challenges you have faced as a rising star in-house counsel, and how have you overcome them?

Given my transactional background my biggest challenge was to take over a large and relevant litigation portfolio and manage it to avoid negative impacts for the company. To overcome that challenge, I built a solid team around me and worked towards becoming an effective leader. Together with my team I created internal processes and controls while delegating tasks to use the full potential of all team members. I also changed external counsel for one area and selected one better suited to the company´s needs.   

An exciting aspect of my journey was embracing the culture of a large corporation. While serving as a transactional outside counsel, I valued connections with clients and colleagues, although they often appeared transitory. My primary focus remained on finalising transactions and transitioning swiftly. Even if certain relationship dynamics were not optimal, it did not carry the same weight, as I anticipated working on fresh deals with new collaborators shortly.   

In my current role, I have had the opportunity to forge robust partnerships with peers hailing from diverse departments and countries, uniting our efforts to realise meaningful, enduring achievements. I have surmounted this challenge by enhancing my interpersonal skills and adopting a more cooperative mindset, concentrating on overarching, lasting objectives. 

What steps have you taken to enhance your professional development and expand your legal skill set? 

I participated in a coaching program that helped me become a better leader and co-worker. I dedicate significant time getting to know the company’s business in detail to provide tailored advice and understand issues holistically. 

I take in courses and conferences imparted by law firms to keep up with new issues and reforms. I am also planning to become a compliance officer certified by Mexico’s Securities and Exchange Commission to improve my AML expertise.