Paola FUDAKOWSKA

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

President
Honorary

Paola is a UK qualified litigator. With 15 years of experience at a leading international private client law firm, on completing an LL.M. in International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights at the Geneva Academy, Paola joined the Legal Directorate at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in London. Paola is agent for the U.K. government in cases before the European Court of Human Rights and advises on Brexit and human rights issues.

Pablo VINAGERAS

J&A Garrigues, S.L.P.

Member
Honorary

Pablo Vinageras is a Counsel in the Mergers & Acquisitions and Corporate law group. Among other fields, Pablo specializes in M&A, corporate law and commercial contracts, especially with respect to advising international investors with interests in Spain. He has notably participated in transactions (sale and purchase of shares and assets, joint ventures, collaboration and specialization agreements, restructuring, etc.) with an international component, with particular emphasis on English-speaking countries, China and Latin America. He also provides ongoing advice on corporate matters within the framework of noteworthy M&A transactions and internal restructuring of the abovementioned entities, as well as of transactions involving private equity and industrial entities.

Paulo NASSER

M Nasser Dispute Resolution

Vice-President
Insolvency

Paulo Nasser is an AIJA member since 2017 and is VP of the Insolvency Commission. Paulo has extensive expertise in cross-border litigation and arbitration, advising clients in complex cases involving business and commercial matters. He is the founding partner of M Nasser Dispute Resolution, in Sao Paulo. Nasser was educated at the Catholic University of Sao Paulo, where he obtained his masters in Private Law (Direito Civil) and his Ph.D. in Procedural Law and Arbitration. He also holds a LL.M. degree from the London School of Economics (LSE).”

Dominik WAGNER

TIGGES Rechtsanwälte

President
International Business Law

German attorney-at-law and partner at TIGGES Rechtsanwälte based in Düsseldorf. Legal and business expert practicing since 2010 in Germany. Certified Specialist for Commercial, Corporate and International Business Law. Approved Compliance Officer. Master of Laws (LL.M.) in international business law, PhD in comparative foundation law. Provides national and cross-border advice in all core areas of commercial, corporate and business law for German, Polish and international business clients. President of AIJA´s International Business Law Commission and former member of its Executive Committee.

Sandrine RICHARD

Me. Sandrine RICHARD Sandrine Richard is a lawyer at the Paris bar. She completed her studies at the University Paris II Assas where she got a Master’s degree in international law as well as a Master’s degree in European litigation. She was the president of the Association of law students and goth er lawyer certification in December 2011. For two years, she hs been a member of the standing committee of the Union des Jeunes Avocats (Young lawyers union). She has taken part in conferences on the lawyer status, alongside with Philippe Bilger and Jean-Yves Leborgne, chairman of the Paris Bar. After working with Olivier Schnerb, she set up her own practice in Paris, where she focuses mainly on business issues. She also gives lectures at the EFB (Ecole de formation professionnelle des barreaux de la Cour d’Appel de Paris, law school preparing students for the Court of Appeal Bar), a l’ESA ( Ecole Supérieure des Affaires de Beyrouth). She also gives and organised conference to prevent about the necessity to fight against corruption. Sandrine Richard was the candidate for the last General Elections ( Les Républicains) for the 13th and 14th districts in Paris. She is still very involved in politics. Auditor accredited in Washington by Ethic Intelligence in Anti Bribery (ISO 37001 and 19600) her goal is to inform and advise private and public companies and governments about the impact of corruption and the impact on the economic growth of a country. She successfully completed the INHESJ competition and joined the training in September 2019 as auditor in « Intelligence Economic and protection of firm » at l’Institut National des Hautes Etudes de Sécurité et de Justice in Paris. This Institute is under the supervision of the Prime Minister. She is also a member of WAPP UNECE (World Association of PPP Units & Professionals in Geneva).

Mark BEARDSWORTH

Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft

Member
Honorary

Speaker

Chiara CALIANDRO

De Berti Jacchia

Vice-President
Litigation

Chiara is a senior lawyer practicing in Milan since 2008 at the De Berti Jacchia, full service Firm with offices in Milan, Rome, Moscow and Brussels. Her main field of practice is international commercial contracts and related litigation, both before ordinary courts and in arbitration. She is the Vice President of the Litigation Commission since September 2019.

Johannes STRUCK

Brödermann Jahn Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH

Vice-President
Intellectual Property, Technology, Media, and Telecommunications

Dr. Johannes Struck is a partner at Brödermann Jahn in Hamburg, Germany specializing in IT and Data Protection Law. Johannes currently is active in consulting global companies on their transitions to EU GDPR compliance particularly in their digital advertising and online marketing.

Ricardo AMPUDIA

Ricardo is Counsel at Shook, Hardy, and Bacon LLP where he represents clients in a wide variety of high-profile international and cross-border disputes, including investor-State, commercial and State-State arbitration, as well as litigation in matters pertaining to securities, international trade, international human rights, and international proceedings before INTERPOL. https://www.shb.com/professionals/a/ampudia-ricardo

Gustaf DUHS

Stevens & Bolton LLP

Gustaf heads up the firm's competition and regulatory team and has experience of advising on a broad range of competition law matters. These include: • competition law matters, such as competition law investigations and merger control; • EU law matters such as public procurement, state aid and free movement; • consumer law investigations; • international trade and sanctions law; and • anti-bribery law. He is listed in the legal directories as a leading individual in Competition and European Law, where sources described him as “a real expert in his field”

Karen RUBACK

Grinberg Cordovil Advogados

National Representative
National Representatives Committee

Partner at the Brazilian law firm Grinberg Cordovil, advising clients on a full range of antitrust and competition issues, in both contentious and non-contentious matters. Ph.D. in Commercial Law from the University of São Paulo (currently in progress). Master in Competition Law from Federal University of Minas Gerais - UFMG. Nominated by The Legal 500 and by Acritas as a stand-out lawyer for antirust/competition law.

Andres HIDALGO

Jose Lloreda Camacho & Co

Partner at Lloreda Camacho & Co. He joined the firm in 2004. He co-heads the M&A practice group and heads the Government Procurement practice group. He also oversees competition law matters. His practice focuses on M&A, corporate law, competition law and government procurement. He has advised several domestic and international companies in major cross-border M&A transactions. He also provides day-to-day advice on corporate matters and merger control compliance. Andrés has a law degree from Universidad de los Andes in Bogotá, Colombia, and completed postgraduate studies in Administrative Law at the same university. He also received an LL.M. degree from Northwestern University. Andrés was awarded, along with Santiago Gutiérrez, with the “Deal Maker of the Year Award – 2015 Edition” in Colombia from Finance Monthly magazine (UK) for a transaction where Lloreda Camacho & CO. acted as counsel to Toyota Motor Corporation. Before joining the firm, he worked as Legal Director of the Compartel Program of the Colombian Ministry of Communications and as Law Clerk to Justice Jaime Araújo on the Colombian Constitutional Court. Andrés is member of the Board of Directors of Comcel S.A. (Claro), among other companies. Andrés is a member of the International Association of Young Lawyers (AIJA). Publications: • “Public M&A” (Colombian chapter), Getting the Deal Through, London, 2018. • “Merger Control” (Colombian chapter), Chambers Legal Practice Guides, London, 2016. • "Top Ten Antitrust Concerns in M&A Transactions in Colombia" Association of Corporate Counsel, Sep, 2014 • "Competition: Merger Control 2014" (Colombian Chapter), Chambers and Partners Publishing, Mar, 2014 • “Top Ten Anti-Trust Concerns in M&A Transactions in Colombia”, Association of Corporate Counsel, Washington, D.C., Sept., 2014. • “Challenges of Enforcing Common Law-based M&A contracts in Colombia”, International Bar Association Legal Practice Division. Vol. 6 No. 2, Sept. 2013.

Camila CORVALAN

Estudio Beccar Varela

Camila Corvalán es abogada senior de Beccar Varela. Comenzó su carrera en la firma en el año 2009. Sus áreas de práctica incluyen defensa de la competencia (control de concentraciones económicas, investigación de mercado, análisis y seguimiento de conductas anticompetitivas); competencia desleal; defensa del consumidor, lealtad comercial; y comercio internacional (defensa comercial – dumping, salvaguardas, subsidios, licencias de importación, regulaciones de la Organización Mundial de Comercio). También cuenta con amplia experiencia representando a clientes de diversas industrias en variados temas de defensa de la competencia y comercio internacional. Asesora diariamente a empresas nacionales e internacionales. Camila es abogada egresada de la Universidad Católica Argentina (2009, diploma de honor) y obtuvo en la misma facultad un postgrado en Derecho Empresario (2011). Asimismo, realizó una especialización en Defensa de la Competencia en el Instituto de Estudios Bursátiles de la Universidad Complutense de Madrid (2012) y se desempeñó en ese mismo periodo como asociada extranjera de Gómez, Acebo y Pombo (Madrid). Es autora de artículos y publicaciones sobre defensa de la competencia y ha participado en la 4ª Edición de “The Dominance and Monopolies Review” (2016). Asimismo, Camila ha sido invitada a dar diversas charlas correspondientes a sus áreas de práctica. Es miembro del Colegio Público de Abogados de la Capital Federal y de la Comisión directiva del Foro Argentino de Mujeres Ejecutivas (FAME). Camila es miembro activo de la asociación de mujeres Voces Vitales y de IWF (International Women Forum). Camila ha sido reconodida por Chambers Latin America, Chambers Global, The Legal 500 y LACCA Approved. Habla español e inglés y se encuentra estudiando portugués.

Paola FUDAKOWSKA

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

President
Honorary

Paola is a UK qualified litigator. With 15 years of experience at a leading international private client law firm, on completing an LL.M. in International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights at the Geneva Academy, Paola joined the Legal Directorate at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in London. Paola is agent for the U.K. government in cases before the European Court of Human Rights and advises on Brexit and human rights issues.

Friederike HENKE

Buren N.V.

President
Skills, Career, Innovation, Leadership and Learning (SCILL)

Dual qualified lawyer (Netherlands & Germany) at the Amsterdam office of the international law firm BUREN. Head of BURENs German Practice. Specializes in international corporate law, mergers & acquisitions, reorganizations and restructurings. Advises multinationals and midsized companies in international transactions and in their day-to-day legal work.

Max MAILLIET

E2M - Etude Max Mailliet

Vice-President
Skills, Career, Innovation, Leadership and Learning (SCILL)

Max specialises in litigation with a focus on fraud and asset tracing, white collar crime, commercial and shareholder litigation as well as insolvency.

Paola FUDAKOWSKA

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

President
Honorary

Paola is a UK qualified litigator. With 15 years of experience at a leading international private client law firm, on completing an LL.M. in International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights at the Geneva Academy, Paola joined the Legal Directorate at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in London. Paola is agent for the U.K. government in cases before the European Court of Human Rights and advises on Brexit and human rights issues.

Benjamin WILSON

Holland & Knight LLP

Benjamin Wilson is partner at Holland & Knight LLP in New York City, and member of the firm's litigation and international arbitration practice groups. He has a diverse litigation practice, representing companies and individuals in cross-border and domestic disputes and insolvency matters across a broad range of industries, such as healthcare, oil and gas, transportation, aviation, construction, financial services, manufacturing, telecommunications, insurance, retail, and hospitality. His practice is concentrated on business disputes, including claims of breach of contract, business torts, breach of fiduciary duty, and insurance coverage and indemnity rights. Mr. Wilson has extensive experience representing clients before the International Chamber of Commerce and American Arbitration Association. In addition to his commercial practice, Mr. Wilson has represented companies in internal investigations relating to allegations of misconduct and financial fraud, as well as defended nonprofit organizations in regulatory investigations conducted by U.S. agencies. Mr. Wilson is admitted to practice in New York and New Jersey and before federal courts in these states. He has been recognized annually by Super Lawyers magazine as a distinguished practitioner since 2013.

Sujey HERRERA

Reed Smith LLP

Speaker

Jonathan ADDO

Harney Westwood & Riegels

Speaker

Ned BEALE

Hausfeld LLP

Speaker

Francesca SALERNO

Co-Chair
Diversity Officer

Francesca is counsel in Dispute Resolution, Insolvency and Restructuring at Legance - Avvocati Associati, an Italian independent law firm with offices in Rome, Milan , London and New York.

George NGENGWE

Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP

George Ngengwe is a partner in Shook’s Seattle office where he focuses on patent portfolio services, counseling, and litigation. George has significant experience in several technology fields, including distributed computing, artificial intelligence, blockchain, quantum computing, privacy and data security. George’s practice includes extensive patent analysis including patent portfolio evaluations for licensing, assertion, and acquisition due diligence. George hold a B.S. in Computer Science and a Master’s in Mass Media and has worked as an analyst/project-manager implementing various information technology systems. George’s deep technical experience provides him with a practical perspective when providing technology-based IP services.

Tero KOVANEN

Borenius Attorneys Ltd

Senior Associate in Borenius Attorneys Ltd's Dispute Resolution group (Finland) with over 10 years of experience in and focusing on international arbitration and cross-border litigation management. Seconded to Borenius' New York office in 2018.

Paola FUDAKOWSKA

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

President
Honorary

Paola is a UK qualified litigator. With 15 years of experience at a leading international private client law firm, on completing an LL.M. in International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights at the Geneva Academy, Paola joined the Legal Directorate at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in London. Paola is agent for the U.K. government in cases before the European Court of Human Rights and advises on Brexit and human rights issues.

Friederike HENKE

Buren N.V.

President
Skills, Career, Innovation, Leadership and Learning (SCILL)

Dual qualified lawyer (Netherlands & Germany) at the Amsterdam office of the international law firm BUREN. Head of BURENs German Practice. Specializes in international corporate law, mergers & acquisitions, reorganizations and restructurings. Advises multinationals and midsized companies in international transactions and in their day-to-day legal work.

Max MAILLIET

E2M - Etude Max Mailliet

Vice-President
Skills, Career, Innovation, Leadership and Learning (SCILL)

Max specialises in litigation with a focus on fraud and asset tracing, white collar crime, commercial and shareholder litigation as well as insolvency.

Leslie DEPOL

Polarity Partnerships

Leslie DePol is CEO of Polarity Partnerships, committed to helping leaders, teams, organizations, communities and nations to See, Map, Assess, Learn and Leverage the interdependent values, goals and competencies that show up in every improvement effort.

Paola FUDAKOWSKA

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

President
Honorary

Paola is a UK qualified litigator. With 15 years of experience at a leading international private client law firm, on completing an LL.M. in International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights at the Geneva Academy, Paola joined the Legal Directorate at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in London. Paola is agent for the U.K. government in cases before the European Court of Human Rights and advises on Brexit and human rights issues.

Daria CAPOTORTO

Tonucci & Partners

President
Environmental and Energy Law

Moderator

Cecilia CURIEL

SOLORZANO CARVAJAL GONZALEZ Y PEREZ CORREA SC

With more than 10 years of experience, she has provided legal advice to national and foreign clients in the preparation of all types of contracts related to electricity generation under the previous regulatory framework and the current one. She has also been involved in matters related to electric power generation and natural gas transport projects, participating in the preparation and negotiation of all types of agreements; in obtaining permits at the state and federal level; as well as in the review and preparation of contracts and general meetings in corporate matters. Education • Masters in Law (LL.M) Boston University School of Law, Boston, Chicago (2016). • Diploma in Energy Law, Barra Mexicana, Colegio de Abogados, A.C. y Academia Mexicana de Derecho Energético, Mexico (2013). • Law Degree, Universidad Iberoamericana, Leon Guanajuato, Mexico (2005).

Ken RIVLIN

Allen & Overy LLP

Ken, a long-time partner in A&O’s New York office, heads the Firm’s Global Regulatory and Environmental Law Group and Co-Heads the Firm’s Sanctions Practice. He and his team advise on environmental and regulatory risk in M&A, projects, capital markets, lending and real estate transactions, compliance with U.S. and EU environmental and regulatory requirements (such as the WEEE and RoHS Directives and REACH), conflict minerals, emissions trading and climate change, environmental disputes, toxic tort risk, SEC disclosure requirements and corporate governance issues. Ken and his team also advise on the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, U.S. and international economic sanctions, Exon-Florio and similar matters. Ken has served on numerous bar committees, is a member of the Committee of the Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice, a member of the Editorial Board of "Environmental Liability", a Lecturer-in-Law at Columbia University School of Law and an Adjunct Professor at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. He writes and speaks frequently on environmental and regulatory matters. He is also a Trustee at Montclair Kimberley Academy, and a board member for the Blacksmith Institute and the Human Needs Food Pantry of Montclair, NJ. Ken is widely recognized as a leading international lawyer. Chambers USA describes him as “‘knowledgeable and great to work with,’...‘he's among the most creative, entrepreneurial and pragmatic environmental lawyers,’” and Legal 500 notes that “Ken is one of ‘the best environmental deal lawyers’ and has ‘very comprehensive’ knowledge of environmental issues, covering ‘directives, exemptions, and jurisdictions.’” Who’s Who Legal states that Ken is “internationally recognized for his work and ‘the first port of call’ for many clients in relation to environmental and regulatory risk in all types of transactions, as well as compliance and disputes.

Larry PASCAL

Haynes and Boone, LLP

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Gastón FERNáNDEZ

https://www.hoganlovells.com/gaston-p-fernandez

Madeleine EDQVIST

Mannheimer Swartling Advokatbyrå AB

Madeleine is specialised in energy and environmental law and has a broad experience of energy related projects, especially in the renewable energy sector, and regulatory matters related to energy and environmental law.

Jeffrey BAST

Bast Amron LLP

TBD

Leslie DEPOL

Polarity Partnerships

Leslie DePol is CEO of Polarity Partnerships, committed to helping leaders, teams, organizations, communities and nations to See, Map, Assess, Learn and Leverage the interdependent values, goals and competencies that show up in every improvement effort.

Leslie DEPOL

Polarity Partnerships

Leslie DePol is CEO of Polarity Partnerships, committed to helping leaders, teams, organizations, communities and nations to See, Map, Assess, Learn and Leverage the interdependent values, goals and competencies that show up in every improvement effort.

Rainer KASPAR

PHH Rechtsanwälte GmbH

Co-Chair
Sponsorship Committee

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Rainer KASPAR

PHH Rechtsanwälte GmbH

Co-Chair
Sponsorship Committee

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Carlos DEL RIO

Creel, García-Cuellar, Aiza y Enríquez, S.C.

CARLOS DEL RÍO S. IS A PARTNER IN THE MEXICO CITY OFFICE, HIS PRACTICE FOCUSES ON MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS, PRIVATE EQUITY AND REAL ESTATE. HE ALSO LEADS THE FIRM’S CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND PRO BONO PROGRAM. Mr. del Río has been practicing law for over twenty years and regularly advises large multinationals and domestic and foreign investors and sponsors on acquisitions, investments, joint ventures and divestitures in Mexico across multiple industries and sectors, including Acco Brands Corporation, Regal Beloit Corporation, Apex Tool Group and Archroma. Particularly, Mr. del Río has gained much experience assisting Japanese clients in the investments, divestitures or reorganization of their assets in Mexico, acting as special Mexican counsel for Nidec Corporation and Fujikura Rubber Ltd. As a partner of the firm’s real estate group, Mr. del Rio has and continues to represent pension funds, private equity funds and other investors in their real estate investments; including industrial investors setting-up their operations in Mexico or strategic joint ventures, for the development and management of real estate assets in Mexico. Most recently, Mr. del Rio advised RLH Properties in the acquisition of a hospitality portfolio Mayakoba in Quintana Roo and BK Partners in the acquisition of its interest in a multifamily portfolio of properties known as “Ciudad Mayakoba” in Quintana Roo. In the realm of private equity and family offices, Mr. del Río has continued to advise SK Capital Partners and its portfolio companies in their acquisitions and day-to-day operations in Mexico. Mr. del Rio is a member of the Barra Mexicana de Abogados and the International Bar Association (Member of the Pro bono Committee). He has been a regular speaker on mergers and acquisitions, private equity and real estate and is a frequent contributor and co-author of articles in different specialized publications in matters related to his core practice areas and to Pro Bono. Carlos heads our Corporate Social Responsibility and Pro Bono program and is involved in participating as an organizer or speaker at public interest conferences in Mexico and abroad to promote and facilitate pro bono work. He is Chairman of the Board and is an active member of the Board of Directors of Fundación Appleseed Mexico, A.C., and the Lawyers Council for Civil and Economic Rights of the Vance Center for International Justice and Centro Mexicano Pro Bono. Mr. del Rio worked as Foreign Associate in the New York office of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP in 2001 and 2002 and the Latin American Desk in the Madrid office of Cuatrecasas, Gonçalves Pereira, S.L.P. in 2003 through 2005. Carlos was born in Mexico City, Mexico. He received his law degree (JD) from Universidad Anahuac in Mexico City in 1998, and obtained his LL.M degree from Northwestern University School of Law together with a Certificate in Business Administration from J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management in 2001. He is fluent in Spanish and English.

Anthony MACPHERSON

Kingsley Napley LLP

Anthony is a Partner in Kingsley Napley's Corporate and Commercial department. Anthony advises clients on financing and corporate matters. He has a broad experience in banking and finance matters including general corporate and individual lending, property finance, asset finance and acquisition finance. Anthony advises on a whole range of corporate transactions including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and shareholder arrangements, and private equity transactions. He also has experience on providing corporate finance advice to companies listing on the junior markets such as NEX Exchange and AIM.

Pablo VINAGERAS

J&A Garrigues, S.L.P.

Member
Honorary

Pablo Vinageras is a Counsel in the Mergers & Acquisitions and Corporate law group. Among other fields, Pablo specializes in M&A, corporate law and commercial contracts, especially with respect to advising international investors with interests in Spain. He has notably participated in transactions (sale and purchase of shares and assets, joint ventures, collaboration and specialization agreements, restructuring, etc.) with an international component, with particular emphasis on English-speaking countries, China and Latin America. He also provides ongoing advice on corporate matters within the framework of noteworthy M&A transactions and internal restructuring of the abovementioned entities, as well as of transactions involving private equity and industrial entities.

Otavio CARNEIRO

Otavio Carneiro Partner Practices Corporate International Education J.D., University of Miami School of Law, 2019; LL.M. International Law, cum laude Bachelor of Laws, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, 1996 Bar Admissions Brazil Florida Languages Portuguese & English Areas of Experience Brazil Corporate Finance and Lending Latin America and the Caribbean Oil & Gas: Upstream Bio Brief Otavio Carneiro focuses his work on outbound investment in Brazil and Latin America and inbound investment from Brazil in the United States. Otavio has assisted a number of clients in transactional and regulatory work in a variety of sectors, such as oil and gas (farm-in/farm-outs, drilling services, supply agreements etc.), infrastructure, IT, banking, mining, construction, shipping, real estate, and agriculture, among others. He concentrates his practice on cross border and domestic corporate and financing transactions, including acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, corporate reorganizations, and loan transactions involving foreign banks and multilateral agencies and Brazilian banks, such as the Brazilian Bank for National, Economic and Social Development (BNDES). Otavio also regularly provides regulatory and contractual legal advice and risk matrix analysis to major Asian, European, and U.S. players in relation to public and private bids for their existing or potential activities in Brazil. Prior to joining Akerman, Otavio worked for 21 years at a top Brazilian law firm where he assisted clients in navigating the complex Brazilian legal system. Otavio is highly regarded for his work in the oil and gas industry, particularly with respect to shipping and shipping finance transactions, and has been ranked as a leading practitioner by publications such as Chambers Global, Chambers Latin America, Legal 500, Who is Who, Latin Lawyer, Best Lawyers and Analysis Editorial.

Alejandra GARCIA

Ferrere

National Representative
National Representatives Committee

Alejandra García is a member of the Corporate and Commercial and Mergers and Acquisitions groups of FERRERE Abogados in Uruguay. She advises local and international companies on their day-to-day activities as well as on project development and foreign investment. Alejandra has participated on numerous high-profile investment projects, as well as local and international mergers and acquisitions.