Organised by Gericó Associates, the forum gathered more than 100 legal leaders from multinationals, law firms and public bodies, positioning Lima as a strategic hub for legal debate in the region, following previous editions held in Bogotá and Miami. Six themed panels tackled issues ranging from anti-corruption compliance and dispute resolution to mining sustainability, crisis management and contractual frameworks for infrastructure projects.

In the panel on compliance, Jean Paul Maufinet Castellares, Ethics & Compliance Officer at OHLA, stressed that “a strong organisational culture is essential for compliance to be lived day to day” and not just within large corporations. For him, the challenge lies in “adapting compliance to medium-sized businesses” and ensuring that everyone understands how to apply it in their daily work.

Raquel Céspedes Salazar, Partner and Country Director of CONEXIG in Colombia, agreed that ethical behaviour is at the core of any compliance programme. “Ethical behaviour is decisive because it shows how people make critical decisions for their organisations,” she said, highlighting the “high level of professionalism” of the discussions.

From a law firm perspective, Angello Rivera, Partner at Osterling Abogados, warned that risk management must go “beyond the criminal sphere” and also address issues such as data privacy, competition law and harassment prevention. “A culture of prevention must permeate from staff through to managers and directors,” he underlined.

The panel on arbitration and dispute resolution, featuring experts in both public and private contracts, included Guillermo Cáez Gómez, Partner at Esguerra JHR in Colombia. Cáez emphasised that “arbitration must serve both citizens and investors, guaranteeing faster and more secure processes, and avoiding excessive state intervention.” For him, the forum provides a space for “integration”, bringing together companies, law firms and the public sector with a 360-degree perspective.

Mining sustainability was another central theme. Fernando Pickmann, Partner at Dentons Peru, called on civil society to support “stricter rules against illegal mining” and to provide the formal mining sector with a competitive framework. “Today, informal mining has more advantages than formal mining, which makes it imperative to sit at the same table to find joint solutions,” he warned.

From Minsur, Rodrigo Echevarría, Superintendent of Legal Compliance, also highlighted the need for policies that allow coexistence with small-scale artisanal mining without tolerating illegality. “The exchange of experiences at national and international levels shows us that while the problems are similar, the solutions must be adapted to each reality,” he said.

Martín Kósa Muñoz, Senior Legal Counsel at Orica, valued the forum as a unique space in Peru to hear the perspectives of in-house general counsel. “Identifying the environmental, economic and social impacts of informal mining is the first step towards addressing them with effective mechanisms,” he noted, describing the experience as an opportunity for professional “growth.”

In the panel on crisis management, Katherine Rueda Chávez, Legal Director for the Andean Region at Visa, insisted that the legal function must be involved from the outset of projects. “This way risks can be anticipated and informed decisions made,” she said, also stressing the role of artificial intelligence, digital tools and coordination with corporate communications during critical moments.

The closing address was delivered by Marc Gericó, Global Managing Partner of Gericó Associates, who stated that “legal departments are undergoing a transformation shaped by sustainability, innovation and digitalisation.” According to Gericó, the Forum aims to be “a bridge between legal leaders and law firms, helping them better understand the needs and evolution of their clients.”

The event was sponsored by Robalino, Akerman, Cuatrecasas, Dentons, Osterling, Linares Abogados, Baxel Consultores, CONEXIG and Aguado & Ruiz Abogados, with support from the Faculty of Law at Universidad del Pacífico, the Arbitration Centre of the Lima Chamber of Commerce, and ASCLA – the Association of Corporate Secretaries of Latin America.

With this edition in Lima, Gericó Associates reaffirmed its commitment to creating strategic discussion and training spaces for those shaping the future of corporate law in Ibero-America.

The next edition of the General Counsel Forum will take place in Mexico City on Thursday, 30 October 2025.