Team size: seven

How do you approach managing legal aspects during periods of instability or crises, and how does your legal strategy align with the broader business strategy to ensure the organisation’s resilience? 

When dealing with legal issues during unstable times or crises, my priority (and that of my team) is to understand the situation and the context behind the crisis and provide legal advice that best fits the circumstances. Moving quickly is important, but it’s crucial not to rush blindly, as that can lead to undesirable outcomes. We focus on acting swiftly but thoughtfully, ensuring our actions are well-planned. During these moments, striving for perfection can sometimes hinder us, so we remain flexible and adjust our strategies as the situation demands. 

Once the crisis is over, it’s vital to take the lessons learned and integrate them into our processes and strategies, better preparing us for the future. Ultimately, our goal is not just to survive crises but to emerge stronger and more adaptable. By aligning our legal strategy with the business strategy, we help the company innovate, adapt, and thrive in a fast-changing world. 

What are the main cases or transactions that you have been involved in recently? 

We have recently closed several projects in Latin America, including the Atlántico development in Maldonado, Uruguay, which comprises a shopping centre (“Atlántico Shopping”) and four towers, and projects in Asunción, Paraguay, such as More del Sol, Central Mariscal, Los Pingos, Nostrum Trinidad, and More del Sol II. These transactions generally involve drafting and negotiating Shareholders Agreements, Services Contracts, Financing (including ancillary documents), and General Construction Agreements, among other related documents. Most transactional documents are prepared in-house. 

Additionally, we worked on registering two entities of our group in the USA as Registered Investment Advisors and produced or adjusted all internal processes and documents to comply with applicable regulations, including periodic reporting. The legal team based in Uruguay provides services to the following markets: the US, Uruguay, Paraguay, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, and Panama (the Mexican market is served directly by the team based in Mexico City). 

How do you prioritise diversity and inclusion within your legal department, and what initiatives have you implemented to foster a more inclusive and equitable work environment? 

Diversity and inclusion are very important for our legal department. We actively promote a culture of inclusion by ensuring that diversity is a key consideration in our hiring practices. We strive to build a team composed of individuals from various backgrounds, each bringing different soft and hard skills to the table. This diversity enriches our team and fosters a continuous exchange of ideas, challenging each other and the broader organisation to promote ongoing growth and evolution. The professional and personal experiences of each of our members provide different perspectives on the issues we face, resulting in better solutions. 

Work-life balance is another important aspect of our inclusive culture. We recognise that a supportive work environment is essential for all team members to thrive. By offering flexible working arrangements and promoting a healthy work-life balance, we ensure that everyone can contribute their best while maintaining their well-being. Our diverse team, with its wide range of perspectives and skills, continually challenges itself and the organisation, driving continuous improvement and success. 

What do you see as the major legal challenges for businesses in Uruguay over the next five years, and how are you preparing to address them? 

Over the next few years, businesses in Uruguay are likely to face several major legal challenges. One significant challenge is the need to modernise and update regulations to facilitate robust business development. It is crucial to strike a balance between flexibility and proper oversight to position Uruguay as an easy, safe, and transparent place to do business, rather than an outdated jurisdiction that does not meet new demands. I believe that many advances have been made in this area, but there is still much work to be done. 

The increasing importance of data protection and privacy laws also presents a significant challenge. With the rise of digital transformation, companies are collecting more data than ever before, and safeguarding this data is becoming increasingly important to our clients and investors. We are strengthening our data protection practices, ensuring robust cybersecurity measures are in place, and staying informed about local and international data privacy regulations. We are also developing internal protocols and periodic communications with our stakeholders to prevent cyber fraud. 

Additionally, regulatory compliance and anti-money laundering (AML) requirements are becoming increasingly stringent. Businesses must ensure they comply with existing regulations and are prepared for new ones, taking this issue seriously. We continuously train our team to stay current with the latest compliance and AML standards, ensuring our practices are robust and up-to-date while remaining investor- and client-friendly. 

By staying proactive and adaptable, we are positioning ourselves to navigate these legal challenges successfully and help our clients do the same. Our goal is not only to comply with the law but to turn these challenges into opportunities for growth and innovation.