Lorena Aimo – Laboratorio Elea Phoenix S.A.

After spending two decades advising companies on complex transactions and strategic matters at one of Argentina’s leading law firms, Lorena Aimó took on a new challenge at Laboratorio Elea Phoenix S.A., one of Argentina’s leading pharmaceutical companies.

Lorena Aimo | Laboratorio Elea Phoenix S.A. | Legal Director

Today, as legal director, Lorena leads all legal affairs of a business operating across multiple Latin American jurisdictions and in one of the most highly regulated industries in the world. Her role spans corporate transactions, compliance, litigation, intellectual property, labor matters, governance, antitrust and regulatory affairs, while supporting the legal aspects of strategic initiatives and regional expansion projects.

Lorena began her career in Buenos Aires at Marval O’Farrell Mairal, where she spent twenty years advising local and international companies on corporate, M&A and strategic matters. The experience exposed her to some of the most sophisticated transactions in the market and helped develop the judgment, negotiation skills and commercial awareness that continue to shape her leadership style today.

Over time, she became increasingly interested in working closer to the business and understanding how legal advice could contribute throughout the implementation of key decisions. While completing a master’s degree in business law at Universidad de San Andrés, she began considering a move.

That opportunity arrived in 2019.

“When I walked into Elea for my interview, I immediately felt there was something special about the company,” she recalls. “It felt like an organization with ambition, energy and a genuine desire to keep growing.”

Shortly after she joined, the COVID-19 pandemic reinforced a belief she already held: legal advice creates the greatest value when it is deeply connected to business realities.

Legal as a strategic partner

Elea is one of Argentina’s leading pharmaceutical companies, with a diversified portfolio spanning over-the-counter medicines, primary care therapies and specialty products, including oncology and rare diseases.

Operating in such a highly regulated environment requires navigating complex legal and regulatory frameworks while continuing to innovate and expand access to healthcare.

Over the past several years, Elea’s shareholders have expanded their footprint across Latin America through a series of strategic investments and acquisitions. As Legal Director, Lorena has been leading these initiatives, providing legal support and risk assessment in connection with cross-border transactions, regulatory matters and post-acquisition integration efforts.

For Lorena, legal departments create the most value when they are involved early in the decision-making process.

“In highly regulated industries, legal cannot work in isolation,” she explains. “You need to understand the business, the operational challenges, the commercial objectives and the regulatory environment simultaneously.”

Under her leadership, the legal team has become increasingly integrated with the business, helping decision-makers understand risks, evaluate alternatives and move forward with confidence.

Supporting regional expansion

One of the most rewarding aspects of Lorena’s role has been supporting regional expansion initiatives.

Her team has been involved in cross-border transactions, antitrust filings, financing structures, governance matters, regulatory assessments and post-acquisition integrations across multiple jurisdictions.

Among the most significant recent milestones was her participation in one of the most transformative regional expansion projects undertaken by Elea’s shareholders: a complex acquisition in Brazil, one of the largest and most strategic healthcare markets in Latin America.

The transaction required navigating corporate, financing, intellectual property, competition law, regulatory and governance matters across multiple stakeholders, jurisdictions and advisors.

For Lorena, projects of this nature illustrate how legal leadership extends beyond technical analysis.

“The legal analysis is one part of the equation,” she says. “You also need to understand what the business is trying to achieve and how to structure solutions that make those objectives possible.”

Her ability to translate legal complexity into practical solutions has made her a trusted advisor across the organization.

Building teams & modernizing legal

Alongside supporting growth initiatives, Lorena has focused on strengthening the legal function itself.

She has promoted the use of technology, data and process management to improve visibility, efficiency and consistency, including the development of LegVolution, a legal operations platform designed to enhance process management and traceability across legal activities.

At the same time, she places significant emphasis on IA without losing the importance of people development.

“The lawyers who create the most value are those who understand both the law and the business context in which decisions are made.”

She encourages her team to think strategically, communicate clearly and actively contribute to solving business challenges rather than simply identifying legal obstacles.

While most legal work is handled internally, Lorena believes strong legal departments are built not only on internal capabilities but also on trusted external relationships.

“Our external advisors are much more than service providers. They are trusted partners and, in many cases, our eyes and ears on the ground. Their local perspective is essential when navigating different regulatory frameworks and understanding the practical realities of each country.”

Beyond the office

Outside work, Lorena finds balance through family, music and sports.

She is the mother of two children, enjoys running and is an active member of a choir—an experience she particularly values for the sense of teamwork, harmony and community it creates.

“In a choir, everyone has a different voice, but the result only works when people listen to each other and contribute to something bigger than themselves.”

The lesson extends naturally into her professional life. Whether leading a legal team, working alongside business leaders or collaborating with advisors across multiple jurisdictions, success depends on trust, collaboration and a shared objective.

Running provides a different source of inspiration.

“Running is a lot like life. There are moments of excitement, moments of fatigue and moments when you want to stop. But if you keep moving forward, the sense of accomplishment at the finish line is incredible.”

The mindset has served her well throughout her career. Building teams, navigating complex transactions and supporting business growth all require resilience, consistency and the ability to keep moving forward even when the path becomes challenging.

For Lorena, legal leadership is not measured by the risks avoided, but by the opportunities responsibly enabled. In an industry defined by innovation, regulation and constant change, her contribution lies in helping transform complex legal and regulatory challenges into practical pathways for growth.