Advising on legal, regulatory, public relations, marketing, production and other start-up related issues for parent company developing spirits brands that combine disruptive luxury packaging with premium liquid profiles. Particularly supporting the 2024 launch of Casazar, an ultra-premium tequila brand, which has won prestigious blind tasting awards for multiple variants at the 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and The Spirits Business Blind Tasting 2024 Awards.

Senior legal advisor for global commercial sales agenda for Diageo plc, a global leader in premium drinks including such iconic brands as Johnnie Walker, Guinness, Ketel One and Casamigos which operates in over 180 markets and had F'22 sales of $18.8 billion; accountabilites included net revenue management, ecommerce, transnational trade and global sanctions compliance (including withdrawal from Russian market after Ukrainian invasion). In addition, as Chief Business Integrity Officer, drove transformation of former compliance and ethics function into global business integrity with accountability for overall program, reporting to the chair of the audit committee of the board of directors in this capacity. Oversaw central team of 14 legal and business integrity professionals, as well as additional 70 FTEs globally.As a member of the legal leadership team since 2008, developed legal and business integrity strategies for a function of 400+ professionals (150 lawyers), aligning functional objectives with company strategy, driving cost saving initiatives, creating global risk assessments and related mitigation plans, deploying technology solutions and championing talent to build high performing, multinational teams.

Served as senior legal counsel for all aspects of development and execution of transformation in company’s global duty-free business (while retaining general counsel responsibilities for Latin America & the Caribbean and key global compliance issues) including renegotiation of key customer relationships, global pricing initiatives, and transnational trade issues specific to channel. Led product differentiation and management of highly complex customer relationships across domestic, duty-free, and free-trade zone distribution channels. Assumed accountability for data privacy program in 2019, refocusing core capabilities and resources which enabled key ecommerce and digital marketing initiatives. (F'19 Latin America & the Caribbean sales of $1.4 billion; Global Travel net sales of $570 million)

Primary counsel to Regional President and key member of Latin American executive team during transformative and highly volatile period in which company reoriented its regional economic footprint. Managed, developed, and restructured team of 16 lawyers based in US (Miami), Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia, Chile, Argentina, and Brazil, accountable for full range of legal issues. Expanded role in 2014 to assume accountability for all global compliance policies and related programs managed by legal function, including anti-bribery and corruption, anti-money laundering, anti-facilitation of tax evasion, competition law, and economic sanctions.

Served as primary counsel to CFO and member of the Board of Directors - Diageo Netherlands Holdings BV. Held accountability for all capital markets, general finance, tax, and treasury related legal matters (including M&A financing) as well as compliance with corporate governance and disclosure obligations arising from company’s primary public listings in NY and London.

Seconded to Taiwan to manage general commercial legal issues related to China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.

Successfully completed several initiatives with Group Treasury to rationalize company’s balance sheet after series of non-core food asset disposals, including secondary sale of $2.4B of General Mills equity (acquired through sale of Pillsbury), and renegotiation of guarantees related to TPG Group’s purchase of Burger King.

Advised on US corporate law matters for foreign private issuers in relation to securities laws and capital markets transactions. Key projects: IPOs (Nobia AB, Snam Rete Gas SpA, ENI SpA privatization tranches); debt capital markets and derivatives (Telecom Italia SpA, Goldman Sachs, Diageo plc); and general corporate law advice (Diageo plc, Reuters plc, Barclays plc).