| AbbVie
Leading research-based pharmaceutical company, AbbVie has a team of senior legal counsel located in Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Venezuela and Guatemala. The legal department is responsible for supporting and giving...
| AIG
As a world-leading insurance company, AIG has been able to recruit a number of well-respected counsel to its ranks that are focused on providing all manner of legal support to...
| Alcon
A division of Novartis and the global leader in eye care, Alcon has an in-house legal team comprised of over 20 individuals who handle the full range of legal and...
| Alorica
Alorica’s legal team for Latin America works with full autonomy, but as part of Alorica’s global legal team following the report obligations and responsibilities to assure that global policies are...
| American Tower
Led by Latin America general counsel Susanne Kandel from the department’s headquarters in New York City, the legal team at American Tower provides the specialist legal skill needed to expand...
| Aon Latin America
Aon is a leading global professional services firm providing a broad range of risk, retirement and health solutions that empowers results for clients by using proprietary data and analytics to...
| Bank of America Merrill Lynch
One of the largest foreign banks operating within Latin America, Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BAML) has an expert in-house legal team based in the US with a specialist focus...
| BIC International
A bright light amongst US-based in-house legal functions who focus on work in Latin America, the legal team at BIC International is recognised for the diversity of its activity and...
| BlackRock
The Latin American and Iberia in-house legal team at BlackRock, one of the world’s largest investment firms, is well regarded for its high level of due diligence and attention to...
| BNP Paribas
BNP Paribas’ Latin America legal team for Corporate and Institutional Banking (CIB) in New York is comprised of five lawyers including head of CIB legal in Hispanic Latin America, Evan...
| Boston Scientific
Supporting the Latin American operations of Boston Scientific, the leading manufacturer of medical devices, is an in-house legal team of five lawyers covering Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Peru, Mexico, Central...
| Brink’s
The legal team is fully responsible for overseeing all legal operations across Latin America for The Brink’s company, the world’s largest cash management system and a global leader in cash...
| Bupa Latin America
Based in Florida, the in-house legal team responsible for Latin America manages all aspects of Bupa’s litigation, customer complaints, and subrogation opportunities in the region. It oversees outside counsel when...
| Caterpillar
As a Fortune 100 corporation and the largest manufacturer of construction and mining, Caterpillar, has a legal team that supports the organisation’s mammoth activities of designing, developing, engineering, manufacturing, marketing...
| Caterpillar Financial Services
The expert in-house legal team provides legal support to Caterpillar Financial’s regional offices in Latin America (Mexico, Brazil and Chile) and coordinates with local teams within those regional offices. The...
| CBRE
Comprised of highly regarded lawyers in the US, CBRE’s legal team are fully aligned and work collaboratively with the senior leadership team in dealing with a number of complex acquisitions,...
| Chubb
A multi-functional team headquartered in Miami and spread across offices in the region with approximately 40 lawyers. The team provides legal support for an extensive and highly developed insurance operation...
| Ciena
The Latin American focused legal team at Ciena, a networking systems, services, and software company, are recognised for having recently worked on a number of significant projects aimed at fortifying...
| Cisco Systems
Cisco Systems, the leading multinational technology conglomerate, has an expert in-house legal team to support its operations in Latin America. Made up of eight lawyers and located in Cisco’s core...
| Citigroup
The Latin American in-house legal team at Citigroup is led by the highly experienced Mariel Creo who serves as managing director for investment banking and capital markets origination legal and...
| Citigroup Latin America
In Latin America, Citi has held a leading position in the financial services industry since 1904, when it started operations in Panama. Citi has the largest footprint of any financial...
| Colgate-Palmolive
In the capacity of vice president and chief of legal affairs for the Latin America division, Ivan Sandoval leads a team of over ten individuals to support the regional activities...
| CONCACAF
Chief legal and compliance officer, Guilherme (Bill) Carvalho leads the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football’s (CONCACAF) legal team to oversee, manage and negotiate commercial contracts of...
| Diageo
Led by New York-based general counsel Timothy Chow, Diageo’s Latin America and Caribbean legal team is a brand protection powerhouse. Given the huge range of products Diageo produces, with a...
| Emerson
The highly regarded in-house legal team covering Latin America at Emerson is an integral piece of the Fortune 500 ranked manufacturing business’ organisation, supporting every area in the region and...
| ERM: Environmental Resources Management
ERM is a renowned global provider of environmental, health, safety, risk, social consulting services and sustainability related services in over 40 countries with 160 offices. The company’s in-house legal team...
| FedEx Express – Latin America and Caribbean Division
The in-house legal team of logistics powerhouse FedEx Express’ Latin America and Caribbean division is a multi-disciplinary and multi-specialised legal function based out of Miami and Fort Lauderdale. The team...
| Genesys
The Genesys legal team cover a broad range of daily legal activities required by the computer software company, including corporate law, contract law, corporate governance, regulatory matters, acquisitions, labour law...
| GSK
GSK is blessed with talented US-based counsel that work exclusively on Latin American related matters. Highly integrated with the commercial side of the business, the legal team has individuals placed...
| HBO Latin America Group
A highly capable, multi-specialised in-house legal department that is as adept with business matters as legal ones, the HBO Latin America Group legal team has received numerous plaudits from interested...
| Hemisphere Media Group
Hemisphere Media Group, a leading publicly traded Spanish-language media company that operates television networks in the US and Latin America, has a high quality in-house legal team led by general...
| HSBC Securities
With numerous lawyers in its Mexico and Argentinian hubs along with many more throughout the region, the operations of HSBC Securities’ Latin American in-house legal team are many and varied....
| IBT Group
IBT has operated in ten countries in the Latin American region for over 20 years. Its in-house legal team has helped navigate the company through economic downturns and recessions in...
| Ilumno
The Latin America-based legal team of tech-enabled knowledge company, Ilumno, is made up of a number of highly skilled lawyers who fully support the organisation to create value and maintain...
| Ingram Micro
Led by associate general counsel for Latin America, Ines Bahachille, Ingram Micro’s legal team that covers the region is made up of 13 people based in the US, Brazil, Mexico,...
| Inter-American Development Bank
Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is one of the largest sources of development financing for Latin America and the Caribbean and is owned by 48 sovereign states from Latin America, the...
| InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG)
The IHG legal team’s headquarters is located in Atlanta where Mauricio Ferreira, legal director for Latin America, the Caribbean and Mexico, is based. The team is regarded as possessing among...
| Johnson Controls
The in-house legal team at Johnson Controls oversees the legal activities of 100 subsidiaries that span 21 countries and territories across six business lines in Latin America and the Caribbean,...
| Marriott International
Marriott International has a high quality US-based legal team that specialises in handling matters in the Caribbean and Latin American region, one of the company’s biggest markets. The team worked...
| Mastercard
Headquartered in Miami, approximately 40 in-house lawyers are responsible for Mastercard’s operations in Latin America and the Caribbean. The team contains generalists and also specialists. These include market, product and...
| Medtronic
Medtronic is a global giant of the medical technology industry with a yearly turnover of around US$30bn and operating in 150 countries. It develops and supplies some world leading technology...
| Microsoft
The highly qualified mid-to-large-sized Microsoft legal team responsible for Latin America is headquartered in Miami and successfully deals with a wide range of issues of strategic importance to the company....
| Millicom International Cellular (Tigo)
Responsible for an extensive portfolio of telecommunications and media products under its Tigo brand, Millicom International Cellular’s Latin American legal function is tasked with providing legal advice for the company’s...
| Mondelēz International
The multinational US food snack and beverage company has an expert team of lawyers working on matters in Latin America to match the company’s strong presence and reputation in the...
| Natixis
Based in New York, the Natixis’ in-house legal team is a highly respected function within the organisation which has also received plaudits from outside observers. The overall team is led...
| PepsiCo
PepsiCo’s large and extremely talented in-house legal team covering Latin America is headquartered in New York City and overseen by senior vice president and general counsel for Latin America Marjorie...
| SAP
SAP’s Latin America legal team is highly capable, motivated and well experienced, combining excellent generalist lawyers with individuals who have local knowledge and specialist legal skill. In particular, the department’s...
| Selina (selina.com)
Selina is a new hospitality group that hosts what it describes as “co-stay, co-live, co-work and co-playing spaces” in fascinating locations around the world. The company is on a mission...
| Stryker Corporation
Andrés Cedrón, senior legal counsel and senior director of compliance, leads the Latin American focused legal function based in the Miami for Stryker Corporation, a Fortune 500 medical technologies firm....
| Viacom International Media Networks – Americas
The business and legal affairs team of Viacom International Media Networks – Americas operates without borders as one integrated team with several geographic locations. Larissa Zagustin, senior vice president, general...
| Willis Towers Watson
Willis Towers Watson has a strong presence in the Latin American region in the insurance and risk brokerage market with operations in Argentina, Brazil, Central America and the Caribbean, Colombia,...
For over 30 years, The Legal 500 has been analysing the capabilities of law firms across the world. In this series, The Legal 500, in collaboration with Legal Business, GC Magazine and The In-House Lawyer, is turning its attention to the in-house function, and recognising those corporate counsel who are driving the legal business forward.
The GC Powerlist is a series of publications, highlighting the most influential in-house lawyers and legal teams in business today. I would like to express my personal thanks to our sponsor, Lex Mundi, for supporting this publication. A special mention must also go to the in-house lawyers that took time to speak to us throughout the process, as well as to the research team that worked on this GC Powerlist publication.
We have canvassed opinions from law firm partners and in-house counsel across the region, to identify corporate counsel that have been instrumental in changing or forming opinions within their company or industry; developing brilliant technical solutions to complex issues; creating innovative structures to ensure that the in-house function is driving the business forward; or providing a business working model that other corporate counsel should follow. Our team of experienced researchers assessed the nominations, speaking both to general counsel and nominating lawyers to finalise each list. The GC Powerlist: US: Latin America Specialist Teams features not just information on why that individual has made the list, but also comment from those in-house lawyers about how they have helped shape innovation in the legal industry.
If you have feedback on the GC Powerlist: US: Latin America Specialist Teams, or wish to nominate other in-house individuals (either in the region or global), please do get in touch at [email protected].
We hope that this listing will stimulate debate around the role of the in-house lawyer and help corporate counsel with possible improvements and efficiencies in running their departments.
David Burgess
Publishing Director
Lex Mundi, the world’s leading network of independent law firms, is proud to be the exclusive partner and co-organiser of the GC Powerlist US: Latin America Specialist Teams.
Together with our member firms in Latin America, we applaud The Legal 500 for highlighting and recognising the excellence of the US in-house legal teams specialising in legal affairs across Latin America.
Lex Mundi member firms in the region have experience working with some of the best in-house lawyers within companies operating across a variety of sectors. This is why a World Ready network like ours – in partnership with The Legal 500 – supports the opportunity to identify and recognise in-house teams who constantly develop innovative technical solutions for complex situations; demonstrate their capacity to adapt and be creative in difficult socio-political environments; create innovative structures to accomplish their organisation’s goals; and, in all cases, stand ready to lead legal teams with professionalism, ethics, and commitment to innovation within the legal profession.
In order to help outstanding in-house lawyers focused on Latin America, Lex Mundi member firms in the region work seamlessly together to offer coordinated, cross-border legal advice. Through our global client service platform, top-tier firms build deep relationships among specialist lawyers to make shared investments in three key areas: training for partners and associates in up-to-date transaction and project management skills; sharing of know-how in connection with legal issues, deal trends and global markets; and strengthening capabilities for seamless cross-border execution.
With more than 1,700 lawyers located in 33 jurisdictions in Latin America and the Caribbean, our member firms offer on-the-ground legal expertise that spans a wide range of industries. No matter where your business is located today, or where you’re expanding tomorrow, our legal services platform is positioned to provide industry and market-specific advice and solutions that are tailored to your needs.
We commend the GC Powerlist US: Latin America Specialist Teams for recognising in-house teams’ excellence and congratulate the nominees for their innovative and valuable contributions to the legal profession.
A special thanks to the following Lex Mundi member firms that made the GC Powerlist US: Latin America Specialist Teams possible:
• Akerman LLP, USA, Florida
• Arias, Fábrega & Fábrega, Panamá
• Basham, Ringe y Correa, S.C., Mexico
• Brigard & Urrutia Abogados, Colombia
• Claro & Cia., Abogados, Chile
• Demarest Advogados, Brazil
• Estudio Olaechea, Peru
• Facio & Cañas, Costa Rica
• Guyer & Regules, Uruguay
• LEĜA, Venezuela
• Marval, O’Farrell & Mairal, Argentina
• Mayora & Mayora, S.C., Guatemala
• McKinney, Bancroft & Hughes, Bahamas
• Pellerano & Herrera, Dominican Republic
• Pérez Bustamante & Ponce, Ecuador
As our annual legal gathering, the GC Summit Argentina 2025, continues to grow, it now encompasses the most up-to-date legal challenges faced by in-house counsel. All the sessions offered a dynamic and thought-provoking exploration of the country’s evolving business environment. From labour law to corporate deregulation and the evolving role of legal leadership, panellists delivered valuable insights that painted a comprehensive picture of the challenges and opportunities facing professionals in Argentina today.
In the first session, sponsored by Deloitte, panellists delved into the complexities of Argentina’s labour law landscape, focusing on pressing challenges and strategic planning. The discussion began with a reflection on the country’s pending labour reforms, many of which are seen as crucial to modernising employment regulations and reducing the administrative burden on companies. One of the key themes was the high financial cost of employment in Argentina, driven by rigid regulation, social security contributions, and the influence of powerful trade unions. The panellists discussed how economic instability and high interest rates have further complicated labour litigation, leading to increased exposure for employers.
The conversation moved to dispute mitigation strategies, with practical examples of how companies are navigating contentious employment environments. The speakers also highlighted the significant implications of mergers and acquisitions, particularly the challenges of integrating workforces while maintaining compliance with complex regulatory frameworks. In an increasingly globalised economy, cross-border employment considerations—ranging from legal to cultural—were also explored. This included issues around remote work, tax obligations, and varying employment standards across jurisdictions. The panel concluded by urging companies to adopt more agile and preventative legal strategies to better manage risk and cost in this demanding environment.
Led by Gastón Miani and Leonel Zanotto, Tavarone’s session focused on the intricacies of Argentina’s tax system in the context of its volatile economic environment. A major point of discussion was the tax inflation adjustment mechanism, which has become essential for accurately reflecting economic realities and preventing distorted tax liabilities. The speakers examined the evolving legal interpretations surrounding loss carryforwards and updates, noting how these can significantly affect corporate tax planning and financial forecasting.
Another key issue was the growing concern around gross income tax credit balances, which many businesses are struggling to reconcile due to inconsistent administrative responses and a lack of clarity around refund procedures. The PAIS tax reimbursement process was also scrutinised, particularly in light of increased foreign exchange restrictions and the bureaucratic hurdles that companies must overcome to claim refunds.
The panel offered a comprehensive look at recent legislative developments and court rulings, highlighting the increasing importance of litigation in shaping tax policy. Overall, the session underscored the urgent need for clarity, consistency, and reform in the tax system to foster a more predictable environment for businesses.
Following a brief coffee break, PAGBAM’s panel discussed the impact of Argentina’s sweeping deregulatory reforms, particularly under Decree 70/2023. These reforms, which aim to eliminate bureaucratic inefficiencies and modernise economic governance, have significant implications for corporate lawyers.
The speakers noted that with the dismantling of cumbersome regulatory processes, legal departments are increasingly freed from routine compliance tasks and are able to focus on strategic matters. M&A activity, corporate structuring, and international expansion were highlighted as areas now demanding more attention and proactive legal guidance. The discussion also addressed how anticipated reductions in labour and consumer claims may reshape legal strategies, encouraging lawyers to shift from reactive to forward-looking roles.
General Counsel were encouraged to embrace a more business-oriented mindset, aligning legal work more closely with organisational goals. As regulation continues to evolve, adaptability and strategic foresight will be critical for legal teams navigating this new and less constrained operating environment.
In a compelling fireside chat, Héctor Ferreira of Hughes & Hughes spoke with Margherita Birri, editor of The Legal 500, about Uruguay’s emergence as a regional leader in business and legal stability. Ferreira outlined the country’s political and legal predictability as a major draw for investors, especially in contrast to the volatility in neighbouring countries. He emphasised Uruguay’s strong institutions, transparent legal system, and open economic policies as foundations for sustained growth.
The conversation touched on key sectors such as renewable energy, tech, and agribusiness, where Uruguay is actively fostering innovation and foreign participation. Ferreira also discussed the country’s push for sustainable development, highlighting initiatives that combine economic growth with environmental responsibility. Attendees were left with a strong impression of Uruguay as a safe and attractive jurisdiction for both corporate activity and long-term investment.
Elevating General Counsel as a Strategic Business Partner (5:20pm – 6:05pm)
The final panel of the day focused on the evolving role of the General Counsel. Rodrigo Hermida, Ivana Di Carlo, and Federico Martinez explored how legal leadership is becoming integral to corporate strategy. No longer limited to risk and compliance, GCs are now expected to influence decision-making, shape business direction, and proactively manage legal and reputational risks.
The speakers discussed how the use of data, performance metrics, and cross-departmental collaboration has become essential in elevating the GC’s role. They stressed the importance of effective reporting and communication with leadership, as well as the need to understand the company’s commercial objectives deeply. The panel also acknowledged the impact of digital transformation, which requires legal teams to be agile and tech-savvy. As the business landscape becomes more complex, the General Counsel is increasingly seen not just as a protector of the company, but as a vital contributor to its success.
As per usual, the day concluded with brief closing remarks, followed by a networking session with delicious local drinks and canapés, allowing attendees to reflect on the day’s discussions and connect with peers and experts in a more informal setting. The panels throughout the afternoon provided attendees with a rich and nuanced understanding of the legal and regulatory developments shaping Argentina and its regional neighbours, equipping legal professionals with actionable insights to navigate the path ahead.
