Team size: five 

Could you share an example of a time when you came up with an innovation that improved how your legal team works and did not come at a large expense?
 

I think that the post-pandemic world has challenged us to be innovative in terms of how we work, and how we maintain the synergies between the members of our team. The application of modern technologies and diverse tools that allow us to keep that fluid work connection, while sorting the challenges that come from working remotely, has required innovation from myself and the legal team as a whole.  

However, this challenge has been overcome and we now find ourselves in a new working environment where hybrid work seems to be the norm and – at least from my experience – team members have thrived, not only in maintaining in-office work synergies but showing great responsibility in their time management and performance.  

Can you foresee any key developments to the way general counsel work over the next five years?     

The rapid advancement of AI tools will in my opinion change how we work in the short term rather than in the long term. I think we as counsel will have an interesting time ahead in determining what tools we can use, while remaining aware of essential concepts such as confidentiality, data protection and security.  

I think that we need to have that discussion, not only regarding AI, but also in more general terms regarding data protection and the human right to privacy in an overly connected world where information seems to flow uncontrollably.   

However, one cannot be a stranger to the application of new technologies and AI, or you could find yourself left behind.  

What are some of the main trends impacting the industry sector you work in in Uruguay?       

I think a lot has changed in terms of regulation in the last couple of years worldwide, and Uruguay is no stranger to this. We now have specific rules that apply to economic substance regarding Uruguayan entities and its taxation regime, free trade zone regulations relating to hybrid work and remote working; while also positioning Uruguay as an interesting jurisdiction for the relocation of Latin American families due to its favourable legal and tax residence regime.  

What are some of the key developments (legal, geopolitical, or otherwise) that have affected your business over the past year?   

We in Uruguay as a small country, will always be tied to the economic and political scenario in Latin America, especially regarding our two big “neighbours” and the Argentinean economic crisis. That will always have an impact on our business locally. There have been significant developments on local regulation that has required our attention in terms of local companies’ taxation and economic substance.