Diana Jennen: “One of the reasons for Cuatrecasas’ rapid growth in Latin America is that it has been able to properly transfer a model of success”

Spanish law firm Cuatrecasas has recently named a Latin American partner, Manuel Quinche, as a member of its Board of Directors. This is the first time in its 105-year history. Our partner and Communications and Business director, Diana Jennen, who was previously head of media at the Spanish firm, participates in a report by Law.com, which analyses Cuatrecasas’ growth formula in Latin America.

Jennen explains that the law firm “has traditionally brought Spanish partners to the region to transmit the corporate culture and working models to local teams”. Quinche, managing partner of the Bogotá (Colombia) office, joined Cuatrecasas in 2020 from Brigard Urrutia, where he was head of the banking, finance and project finance group.

The first foray into Latin America by the firm, whose current executive chairman is Rafael Fontana, took place 20 years ago in Brazil, when it merged in 2003 with law firm Gonçalves Pereira. However, this relationship ended in 2018 with the closure of the office. Since its initial entry into Latam, Cuatrecasas has launched in Mexico, Peru, Chile and Colombia.

Shadowing programme

When asked by Law.com, our partner Communication and Business director recalls that Cuatrecasas has recently launched a shadowing programme.

Its objective, she explains, is to match its Latin American associates with their corresponding practice groups in Spain. “These annual week-long immersions are aimed at associates who have joined the firm during the previous year, with the aim of helping them integrate into the firm and encouraging inter-office networking”.

For Jennen, “one of the key reasons for Cuatrecasas’ rapid growth in Latin America is that it has been able to successfully transfer a successful model”.

If you want to read the full interview in Law.com (under registration), click here.