Lima, 2 August 2021 – Estudio Echecopar Member Firm of Baker & McKenzie International, is pleased to announce four new appointments: Luis Miguel Almendariz, Gonzalo Bernal, Enrique Johanson, and Luis Ernesto Marín — lawyers with extensive experience in labor, international trade and customs, arbitration, and banking and finance, respectively. They will strengthen the firm's growth and development plans in the region.

Luis Miguel, Gonzalo, Enrique, and Luis Ernesto are some of the firm's 99 new global partners and of counsels that were announced at the end of June. More than 35% of these promotions and hires are women.

Luis Miguel Almendariz, promoted from senior associate to partner, has a master's degree in Labor Relations — an International Training Center OIT program — from the University of Turin. Luis Miguel has significant experience advising national and international companies across sectors on all aspects of personnel management.

"The future of the world of work is constantly evolving, which has been especially evident during the pandemic. Our local and regional teams have the resources and platform to help our clients navigate these new spaces. I accept this new position's great responsibility, and am very motivated to continue working with our clients and contributing to their business development in Peru," said Luis Miguel.

Gonzalo Bernal was also promoted from senior associate to partner. He has a master's degree in International Law and Economics from the World Trade Institute in Switzerland. Gonzalo is knowledgeable in international trade and customs. He has extensive experience in the industrial and manufacturing sectors, with particular focus on agribusiness and food companies.

"Our firm seeks to maintain our position as a leading player in the market and update the concept of trade expertise. We aim to promote a regulatory and market access approach, in addition to consolidating the practice along our second axis: specialization by industry, increasingly strengthening our broad national and international experience, especially in agrobusiness, logistics, and consumer products," Gonzalo said.

Enrique Johanson, promoted from senior associate to of counsel of the Lima office, is an MBA graduate from the University of Piura, lawyer, arbitrator, and lecturer with more than 15 years of experience in civil law, real estate, arbitration, construction law, and public procurement.

He has extensive experience in commercial strategy design and providing advice on contractual issues, agreement negotiations, and resolving complex infrastructure project disputes.

Commenting on his appointment, Enrique said: "Our team has extensive experience in highly complex domestic and international arbitration, focusing on commercial arbitration and public procurement, which allows us to provide comprehensive advice to our clients. I accept this new role with the aim of enhancing Estudio Echecopar's leadership in arbitration and contractual consulting to generate added value to our domestic and foreign clients."

Luis Ernesto Marin, promoted from senior associate to of counsel, has extensive experience in banking and insurance regulatory matters (including advising companies in different fintech sector verticals) and transactional matters. Prior to joining the firm in 2012, he worked as in-house counsel at two of Peru's leading banks. He holds a master's degree in Finance and Corporate Law from ESAN University and completed postgraduate studies at Centrum PUCP and Harvard University.

"We are a leading firm in Peru's banking and finance sector, where we will continue working to consolidate our leadership. We have strong experience in financial services regulation, which we will continue to expand, thereby further differentiating ourselves from purely transactional firms. New banking regulation standards and business models will create greater demand for specialized advice in financial services regulation," said Luis Ernesto.

Juan Carlos de los Heros, managing partner of Estudio Echecopar and chairman of the Latin American Capital Markets Steering Committee, said: "I congratulate Luis Miguel, Gonzalo, Enrique, and Luis Ernesto on their accomplishments, and I am sure they will continue to achieve success as part of our team. The promotion of four associates to partners and of counsel is another example of the firm's commitment to its talent and Peru's development."

"We hope to continue growing hand in hand with our clients. We are a full-service but very focused firm that provides our clients comprehensive and efficient advice. Additionally, our regional and global reach and use of legal tech tools mean we can help our clients grow within and outside the country. As one of Peru's leading firms, we are the advisor of choice at the regional and global level."