Team size: Four 

What has been the number one challenge that has impacted you over the past year?  

Without a doubt, the biggest challenge I faced this past year was to leave the law firm where I used to work for almost ten years in total and begin in Cumbra Perú as the chief legal officer of the company in Peru. Even though I am still working in the same field (construction of infrastructure projects) the approach of solving legal problems have totally changed since the requirements inside a construction company are more dynamic and demands a wide spectrum of knowledge besides the legal understanding. For example, our legal department works very closely with the technical team composed by engineers, and with the finance team composed by economists and accounts, which brings us a huge opportunity to understand the main challenges a construction company must sort out. Sometimes, the legal assistance needs to be provided as fast as it is required for the team in charge of the execution of the construction works. For sure, learning all this has been challenging although very exciting given I feel out of my comfort zone.  

Looking forward, what technological advancements do you feel will impact the role of in-house legal teams in the future the most? 

Nowadays, AI software is trendy topic, so my guess is that AI software like ChatGPT or Jasper specifically applied to law may have a huge impact on the legal departments. Nowadays, even though a broad variety of legal software is available for lawyers, I think AI may be a big help for the recollection of information that is needed to prepare legal documents saving time, human resources and related costs. I do not think that AI software will replace lawyers, however no doubt that it can be a big ally for us.  

What is a cause, business related or otherwise, that you care about, and why? 

Last year I decided to try a new sport, muay thai. While the principal trainer is almost my age, other trainers are young, most of them are between 19 to 24 and they have a strong mindset that has inspired me in many ways. In each training session, I realised that lots of young people go regularly and train very hard, being super disciplined and taking it seriously. Being able to support them in official tournaments, I also realised that a big majority comes from a difficult background and usually they do not have the support athletes from other countries may have. That is why, since last year, I am very committed not only to this sport but also to support these young athletes that need a little bit of help. In one way, helping them is not only a cause I really care about, but an opportunity to retribute them for the lessons they gave me and how they inspire me to be resilient.