Puerto Rico 2024
Supported by the Association of Corporate Counsel
ABB Senior Legal Counsel, Central America and Caribbean | ABB
Chief legal officer | GENCO General Contractors
Director of intergovernmental affairs and senior executive advisor | AAFAF
Formerly chief legal officer and corporate secretary | Aerostar Airport Holdings
Chief compliance officer and general counsel | Parliament Capital Management
Chief operating officer, chief legal and compliance officer, vice president | Abarca Health
General counsel, vice president organisational development and human resources | Universidad del Sagrado Corazón
Chief financial officer and general counsel | RoofMaxx Technologies
Chief compliance and legal officer, country manager | Gamma International Bank
With over two decades of dedication to financial compliance and securities law, David Galarza-Sosa, Esq. is a recognized leader in the legal and financial sectors. As Chief Compliance and Legal...
General counsel and administrator | Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust
Ms. Díaz Rivera is Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Trust’s general counsel and administrator. As such, she advises the chief executive officer and the trust division managers of applicable regulations,...
Vice president and deputy general counsel | Triple-S Management
Frances M. Cifuentes Gómez serves as Vice President and Deputy General Counsel at Triple-S Management Corporation since 2022, where she brings over 15 years of distinguished experience in the insurance...
General counsel | Puerto Rico Telephone company - Claro PR
General counsel | Office of the Commissioner of Financial Institutions
General counsel | Metropistas
Mr. Guillermo Gil Díaz is currently the General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and Corporate Secretary of Metropistas, the largest public private partnership and the single private toll road operator in...
General counsel | Puerto Rico Office of Management and Budget
Executive vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary | MAPFRE Puerto Rico
General counsel | OFG BANCORP
Hugh González is General Counsel and Secretary, overseeing the company’s legal and compliance departments. Named to the position in 2021, he advises OFG Bancorp’s and Oriental Bank’s executive and senior leadership...
Senior associate general counsel and SIU director | First Medical Health Plan
Deputy director, contract administration CDBG-DR/MIT Program | Puerto Rico Department of Housing (PRDOH)
Committed to the public service of Puerto Rico as well as its reconstruction, especially after the devastation caused by hurricanes Irma and María, attorney Joel Hernández Alvarado has served as...
Chief regulatory officer | Genera PR
Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Katiuska Bolaños is an accomplished attorney with extensive knowledge of energy regulatory affairs. With years of experience, she currently holds the position of Chief...
Oversight manager for public corporations of the government of Puerto Rico | Puerto Rico Fiscal Agency and Financial Advisory Authority
Exective vice president, and chief legal and administrative officer | Evertec
In-house counsel and risk management director | Ryder Memorial Hospital
Partner, general counsel | Semillero Partners
In 2023, Natalia joined Rocana Venture Holdings to oversee legal and compliance. Rocana is a mission-driven venture capital fund based in Miami, dedicated to supporting entrepreneurs who create innovative and...
Vice president, general counsel and secretary of the board of directors | APEX (part of Grupo Mariposa)
Deputy General counsel | Financial Oversight & Management Board for Puerto Rico
Senior deputy general counsel and head of AML compliance operations | Santander US
Executive vice president, general counsel and secretary of the board of directors | FirstBank
Ms. Alvarez has been the Secretary of the Board of Directors of First BanCorp and FirstBank Puerto Rico since July 2020 and held the position of Assistant Secretary of the...
General counsel | Delphi Ventures
Sarah has fifteen years of corporate and securities legal experience, having worked in NY, DC and internationally. She has been actively involved in the digital asset space since 2017, founding...
The second edition of the GC Powerlist Puerto Rico celebrates the remarkable achievements of seasoned in-house legal professionals across diverse industries in Puerto Rico. As part of our GC Powerlist series, Legal 500 is thrilled to once again shine a spotlight on the capable Puerto Rican legal market. This publication highlights the exceptional abilities of in-house legal experts who are meeting their companies’ evolving needs.
In the face of complex legal landscapes and multifaceted challenges, these professionals consistently demonstrate excellence and resilience to leading their departments. Carla Framil Ferran, general counsel of Liberty, encapsulates this when she shares that her legal department “approaches our work in a creative, innovative, and passionate way, ensuring that legal considerations are seamlessly integrated into the business’s objectives.” This underscores how in-house legal teams act as critical partners in driving their organisation’s success.
The influence of these legal leaders often extends beyond Puerto Rico’s borders. Many are entrusted with guiding their companies through market entry strategies and operational matters across regions like Latin America and the Caribbean. Their ability to navigate diverse regulatory landscapes while maintaining high standards of legal expertise highlights their global relevance.
Moreover, their contributions transcend the corporate sphere. Numerous professionals featured in this edition are deeply committed to civic engagement and community enrichment. Luis Roberto, Director of Intergovernmental Affairs and Senior Executive Advisor, exemplifies this spirit, stating, “I am passionate about academic mentoring, teaching, youth empowerment, and encouraging public service.” This is a keen example of holistic impact these individuals have in both professional and personal lives.
It has been a privilege for Legal 500 to conduct research into this inspiring market once again. On behalf of our team, I extend heartfelt congratulations to all the exceptional legal professionals recognised in this publication. Your work sets a high standard for the global in-house legal community, and we are proud to celebrate your achievements.
Legal 500, in exclusive partnership with BKM | Berkemeyer, co-hosted the launch of the GC Powerlist: Paraguay 2026, on June 10, at Luna 21, located in the World Trade Center in Asunción. Marking the second edition of the publication, the event brought together leading in-house counsel from across the country to celebrate excellence within Paraguay’s corporate legal community.
The evening began with opening remarks from Francisco Castro, Research Editor at Legal 500, who recognised the achievements of this year’s honourees and reflected on key themes emerging from the research process led by fellow Editor, Allan Cohen. In particular, he noted the growing influence of in-house legal teams within core industries and their increasing involvement in strategic, business-critical decision-making – a testament to the growth of corporate legal departments in the country.
Manuel Arias, Partner at BKM | Berkemeyer, followed with his address, congratulating those featured and sharing his perspective on the development of Paraguay’s legal market. He highlighted the evolving expectations placed on legal departments and the importance of continued collaboration between private practice and in-house teams.
To conclude the speeches, Ana Garrido of Constructora Heisecke, and one of this year’s honourees, was invited to share a few words from an in-house perspective. In her remarks, she emphasised the importance of in-house lawyers developing a deep and practical understanding of their business, while also underscoring the value of collaborating with external counsel to handle highly specialised matters that may fall beyond the time or resource constraints of internal legal teams.
With more than 60 attendees, the event provided a valuable platform for connection among senior in-house lawyers, reinforcing Legal 500’s commitment to supporting and recognising this dynamic and increasingly influential community. As the role of general counsel continues to expand, their contributions remain central to the success and resilience of modern organisations.
Legal 500 extends its sincere gratitude to BKM | Berkemeyer for its continued collaboration and support in bringing this publication and event to fruition.
