Charles E. Meacham, Partner, Foley & Lardner, Houston, Texas

Tell me about a favourite place to visit in Lima?

The waterfront restaurant Costa Nera fuses Peruvian and Japanese cooking. When I went there, I had the most amazing ceviche and a special dish packed in salt and cooked on an open flame but it wasn’t salty at all. 

What session was your must-attend one and why?

As I am a corporate transactional lawyer, I wanted to hear Julio Velarde, president of the Central Reserve Bank of Peru speak. It’s remarkable how he has been able to keep inflation under control in Peru and keep the currency from devaluing to avoid hardship for ordinary Peruvians.

Why is the IBA important to your practice? 

Many of us live in provincial places and sometimes we only see what’s in front of us. The IBA takes me out of my comfort zone and provides the amazing ability to give access to people from all over the world.

What advice would you give to a young lawyer starting out in practice?

My biggest regret was that I didn’t join the IBA until about 10 years ago. My advice is get started in the IBA while you are young and you’ll meet your friend for the rest of your career.  

Eduardo Quintanilla, Managing Partner, BAQSN, La Paz, Bolivia

Tell me about a favourite place to visit in Lima?

Visit the Plaza de Armas, the main public square in Lima’s historic city centre which dates back to the foundation of the city in 1535 and is surrounded by major landmarks, including the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Archbishop’s palace, and the Palacio de la Union. During the colonial era, it served as a market, bullfighting ring and the city gallows. Close to it you may also visit the Casa de la Literatura, which transports you to the great wealth of contemporary Peruvian literature, including Arguedas, Scorza, Vallejo and Vargas Llosa.

What session was your must-attend one and why?

The session ‘ESG: myth or reality’. Any thought about the legal profession’s future and the sustainability of our world very much depends on our universal approach to the responsibility we all have on environmental, social and independent governance in our institutions.

Why is the IBA important to your practice?

The IBA has become an enormously inspiring place to discuss the most concerning issues in legal practice. The IBA provides the opportunity to approach these issues on an academic level and learn from all of our colleagues’ experiences and views from the different corners of the world.

What advice would you give to a young lawyer starting out in practice?

Be passionate. Commit to what you believe and what you love.

Rodrigo Galleguillos Martin, Professor of Mining Law, Faculty of Law, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile

Tell me about a favourite place to visit in Lima?

La Mar Cevichería. It’s my favourite restaurant!

What session was your must-attend one and why? 

Sustainable financing. We need to think in new ways to finance projects that protect the environment and lift indigenous communities’ quality of life.

Why is the IBA important to your practice? 

It’s an excellent place to meet the people that lead change in the legal practice. As a professor in the Universidad de Santiago de Chile Law School, for me it is important to bring these new ideas to my students.

What advice would you give to a young lawyer starting out in practice? 

Do what is passionate for you. Law is in everything. Probably, you will find a way in which your law background will intersect with what makes you feel alive.

Ximena Suárez, Senior Associate, Alta, El Salvador

Tell me about a favourite place to visit in Lima?

My favourite place to visit in Lima has been La Huaca Pullana, an ancient archeological site located in the city of Miraflores, which is a pre-Inca pyramid made with adobe bricks, and which served as a ceremonial and administrative centre of the Lima culture.

What session was your must-attend one and why? 

My must-attend conference was the women’s breakfast ’The power of right policies and culture: boosting business performance and innovation and the future of private equity’. 

Why is the IBA important to your practice?

The IBA provides valuable insight regarding global legal frameworks, compliance changes and corporate governance that can affect global transactions such as mergers and acquisitions. Also, it provides high-level networking with legal professionals and business leaders from all over the world. 

What advice would you give to a young lawyer starting out in practice? 

My best advice for young lawyers is to acknowledge the importance of personal and social interacting, as well as the insights that are provided in events such as the IBA, through which they can let the world know how well prepared they are in an environment which involves fast changes in technology and the ways of doing business.

Eugenio Hurtado Segovia, Founding Partner, RGRH, Mexico City, Mexico

Tell me about a favourite place in Lima?

The Lima Art Museum, or Museo de Arte de Lima. Its collection includes ceramics, textiles, sculptures and paintings surveying almost 3,000 years of history ranging from the pre-Columbian to contemporary time periods. It’s worth visiting. 

What session was your must-attend one and why?

The best sessions are the ones on the administration of law firms because they apply to all law firms. You learn a lot.

Why is the IBA important to your practice?

It is a question of branding. Attending the IBA reinforces our message and is part of our overall strategy.

What advice would you give to a young lawyer?

Don’t lose faith. Law is a lot of effort and very tiring but it will pay off in the end.

Daniela Aguilar De Aquino, Associate, KNR, Mexico City, Mexico

Tell me about a favourite place in Lima.

Cala, the restaurant on the sea is not to be missed. It has a great view, great food and you will have an amazing time there. 

What session is your must-attend session and why?

The AI and technology and law firm management sessions are not to be missed. AI is a really important topic and it’s great to have experts who are using these tools in their daily lives and tell us how to incorporate them into practice.

Why is the IBA important to your practice?

If you build your relationships correctly at the IBA, you will receive client referrals and be able to provide them. The relationships we build here lead to lasting bonds with people you can count on. 

What advice would you give to a young lawyer?

As a young lawyer myself, my advice is to not be afraid of attending IBA and getting to know people. There are established professionals here who know what they are doing and can help us grow our careers.

Emilio Noguerol Uceda, Associate, Amprimo Flury Barboza & Rodríguez, Lima, Peru

Tell me about a favourite place in Lima?

At the seafront in Lima, you have the smell of the sea and the view of the city. Very few cities in the world have this view.

What was your must-attend session at the IBA and why?

The young lawyers sessions, especially the one focused on rainmakers because it was so exciting to listen to the experiences of a young, woman lawyer who is focused on business building activities. I think this is something we need as lawyers because we work at our desks and need to find ways to enhance our relationships with other lawyers as well as clients. It was a very empowering session. 

Why is the IBA important to your practice?

I work in a boutique law firm. We are small but we have large clients. It’s important to have strong connections with people around the world and show them the kind of work we do. 

What advice would you give to young lawyers?

I am a young lawyer and the best advice for me is to keep your life balanced. Do your favourite sport, keep up with friends and family. Keep your mind in your business but also in different areas of your life because that will enhance the work you are doing. I go twice a week to ride my horses and have contact with nature; these experiences give me energy to go back to my office.

Alexis V. Herrera Jr., Partner, Icaza González-Ruiz & Alemán, Panama City, Panama

Tell me about a favourite place in Lima?

My favourite place is the restaurant La Gloria in the Miraflores district.

Why is the IBA important to your practice?

The IBA is the best organisation from a worldwide and regional perspective to network among law firms. There is no other organisation that gives you the opportunity to meet so many lawyers from so many countries and develop long-lasting professional relationships.

What session was the must-attend for you at the IBA conference? 

Anticipating M&A trends. 

What advice would you give to a young lawyer starting in his/her practice?

Networking is key to your professional future. Join the IBA and participate actively. Going to IBA conferences is not an expense, but an investment. 

Horacio Vianello, Partner, BC | F | PZ Abogados, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Tell me about a favourite place to visit in Lima?

I absolutely loved exploring Lima’s historic downtown, where the intricate wooden balconies reflect the city’s rich colonial heritage. Another must-see is the Museum of Art of Lima, or MALI, which houses the compelling painting Los funerales de Atahualpa, offering a glimpse into the region’s fascinating pre-Columbian and Colonial past.

What session was must-attend for you at the IBA conference?

Two sessions were at the top of my list for the IBA LARF conference in Lima: ‘The rise of cybersecurity attacks in Latin America’, because staying ahead of digital threats is vital for businesses, and ‘The future of private equity: evaluating and improving legal structures in Latin America’, as it provides critical insights into shaping investment strategies in a rapidly evolving market.

Why is the IBA important in your legal practice?

The IBA is prized to me because it connects me with a global network of legal professionals and offers deep, practical knowledge through its sessions and roundtable discussions. Building these international relationships and staying updated on worldwide legal trends significantly enhances my practice.

What advice would you give to a young lawyer starting in his or her practice?

Find a mentor within the IBA who can guide you on the best path for career development. Also, remember that networking is a long-term investment in building trust; focus on cultivating genuine relationships rather than seeking immediate results.

Carolina Aguirre, Partner, BASQSN, Santa Cruz, Bolivia

Tell me about a favorite place to visit in Lima.

Since Lima is very well known for its great food, I would recommend visiting any of the famous restaurants that are listed among the best in the world. Food is a great manner to learn about the culture and people of each place.

What session is "must-attend" for you at the IBA conference?

In general, I am interested in the new practices in the legal profession, mainly IA that is becoming more and more relevant each day.

Why is the IBA important in your legal practice?

I think the IBA is important for any lawyer who is looking to expand their knowledge in the current legal practices and create a close network of peers in other countries.

What advice would you give to a young lawyer starting in his/her practice?

Young lawyers should take interest in participating in the several committees of the IBA, both to learn from other peers as well as to contribute with current developments and practices in the legal profession.  

The Global Legal Post has been reporting from The Road to 2030 in Latin America conference. Click here for further coverage.

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