Features
Catching El Peje: what lawyers expect from AMLO's presidency
24 May 2019
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador is popularly known as El Peje because of his Tabasqueño accent. The nickname comes from pejelagarto (literally, fishlizard), an alligator-like fish from his native Tabasco. Much like his freshwater namesake, it’s hard to pin down what he is, so Latin Lawyer asked some of Mexico’s top lawyers for help.
Exposing the gap
23 May 2019
For the past two years, many UK law firms have been compelled to publicly disclose the difference between what they pay male and female lawyers. Gender pay gap reporting can be a blunt instrument, but acknowledging a problem is the first step to solving it. We consider the implications for Latin America’s legal market.
Why fewer women than men become partners
23 May 2019
Partners sit at the top of the law firm pyramid structure and they have the biggest pay packets. The fact that women are in the minority in most law firm partnerships in Latin America – and indeed the world – is the main reason behind the gender wage gap in the legal profession. Here, we list four common explanations put forward to explain why more women don’t rise through the ranks to become partners.
Do clients care about law firm diversity?
23 May 2019
A survey of some 190 corporate counsel by the Latin American Corporate Counsel Association (LACCA), which is affiliated to Latin Lawyer, got a mixed response about how important diversity is when it comes to choosing external legal teams. Christina McKeon Frutuoso presents the findings.
Lifetime Achievement Award: Ronaldo Veirano
22 May 2019
One of this year’s winners of Latin Lawyer’s Lifetime Achievement Award, Ronaldo Veirano, built his eponymous firm into a leading legal institution in Brazil. He reflects on his journey to become one of Brazil’s sharpest and most respected legal minds.
Edging out the competition
20 May 2019
Christopher Finn, global head of operations at alternative asset manager The Carlyle Group, speaks to Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP’s Todd Crider about private equity’s prospects in Latin America, the rewards of having on-the-ground expertise and what he looks for in external legal counsel.
A turning point
20 May 2019
Argentina is overhauling its anti-corruption efforts. Significant enhancements to regulations and enforcement show a clear trend of local and international companies paying increasing attention to anti-corruption, compliance and investigations matters. Marval, O’Farrell & Mairal’s Gustavo Morales Oliver and Pedro Serrano Espelta outline what’s changed.
NAFTA 2.0?
17 May 2019
The United States, Mexico and Canada signed a free trade agreement on 30 November 2018, replacing the existing 24-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in place between the three countries. Hogan Lovells LLP partner Chandri Navarro asks whether the US–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) really represents a significant change in the trade relationship between the three countries.
International Lawyer of the Year: David Williams
28 January 2019
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP’s David Williams built his legal career in Latin America off the back of early exposure to the region, managing to successfully navigate his firm’s Latin American practice through a constantly changing political and economic environment. He is 2018’s recipient of Latin Lawyer’s International Lawyer of the Year Award.
Marvellous as ever?
25 January 2019
“O Rio de Janeiro continua lindo (Rio de Janeiro keeps its beauty)” are the words to Gilberto Gil’s immortal samba, but after years of economic decline, skyrocketing violence and corruption scandals, has the appeal of Brazil’s cidade maravilhosa remained intact?