All four Affinitas’ member firms included in Latin Lawyer Elite 2019

Latin Lawyer has published its Latin Lawyer 250 analysis for 2019, including its more selective Latin Lawyer Elite group of Firms, which consists of only 42 law firms in the region. Latin Lawyer Elite firms stand above their peers for the attention they give to building strong institutions capable of standing the test of time. Affinitas is delighted to see all four of its member firms form part of this top echelon. No other international firm, network or alliance managed to achieve this result across the countries of the Pacific Alliance. Latin Laywer Elite thus confirms Affinitas’ unique positioning in the region.

In a related article published by Latin Lawyer, Affinitas’ Colombian member firm Gómez-Pinzón was lauded for its approach to leadership and partner succession, highlighting its “Future Leaders” programme that offers training in business and soft skills. Gómez-Pinzón’s managing partner José Luis Suarez is quoted on how the firm tries to involve their future leaders as early as possible in the actual business of a firm, “because it’s very important they understand that to become a partner is to be more than just a good lawyer”. For more information on Latin Lawyer Elite survey, click here. The article on partner succession and institutionalization can be found here. (log-in required)

Affinitas' 2019 Secondment Programme continues with two new secondees in Chile and Colombia

Affinitas is pleased to inform that two more lawyers have started the secondment program. Patricio Rivas, Antitrust and Litigation lawyer from Mijares, Angoitia, Cortes y Fuentes, arrived on July 1st in Bogota, starting his 6-month stint at Gomez-Pinzón. On August 12, Peruvian lawyer Jose Villafuerte, from Miranda & Amado whose professional practice is focused on banking regulation and financing transactions started the secondment program at Barros & Errázuriz in Chile.

The Alliance’s international secondment programme, which was founded in 2004 and formalized 10 years later, offers young lawyers a unique opportunity to spend a number of months working in one of the other member firms, gaining both personal and professional experiences of a lifetime in the process. Selected lawyers have 5-6 years of professional experience, demonstrate outstanding professionalism, and an advanced level of English.

The programme offers participating lawyers an opportunity to participate in all professional education programmes of the firm they join. They also receive housing, health insurance, and support in all administrative procedures related to their relocation, all the while keeping their salary.

The experience broadens the horizon of the participating lawyers, and of course strengthens the ties between the Affinitas firms. The programme greatly contributes to Affinitas strategic objective of offering lawyers in the member firms a unique international environment, interesting career paths and is conducive of the very special Affinitas culture cherished by everybody involved.