Maurin Pérez de León

Throughout a decades-long legal career that has taken her across industries, jurisdictions, and cultural landscapes, Maurin Pérez de León has stayed grounded in a simple yet powerful mission: to be the kind of leader, mentor, and counselor she once wished she had. Whether navigating regulatory mazes or guiding young attorneys through career uncertainty, Maurin brings authenticity, empathy, and a deep understanding of what it means to lead with integrity.

Maurin Pérez de León | General Counsel – LATAM

Her journey from a childhood steeped in legal discourse to becoming a trusted legal leader across Latin America is marked not only by her professional accomplishments but also by her devotion to building capable teams, empowering others, and never losing sight of the human side of the law.

Maurin’s leadership style has matured in tandem with her growing teams. In her early years, she focused on mastering the technical aspects of her role. But as her experience deepened, she learned the power of soft skills—how tone, timing, and empathy could shape the outcome of a conversation or the success of a negotiation.

“Once I recognize that my team has developed sufficient legal expertise,” she says, “I transition into more of a coaching role.”

She stays close to her team, helping them refine their communication, especially when presenting complex legal issues to business leaders. But her involvement goes beyond just business.

“I support my team not only professionally but also personally—whether they’re navigating motherhood, grieving a loss, or managing stress.”

A strong advocate for direct and transparent communication, Maurin believes that a healthy work environment is the foundation of any successful legal department, particularly in the in-house world, where legal teams often face relentless external pressure. But even when the stakes are high, she makes space for levity.

“Even in the most serious moments,” she says, “it’s essential to find space for humor—it helps us stay grounded.”

Championing young talent across borders

Mentorship is not just a passion for Maurin—it’s a central tenet of her identity as a lawyer and leader. Throughout her career, she has mentored young attorneys, many of whom have become lifelong friends. From guiding women lawyers in Argentina and Spain to supporting colleagues during career transitions, she finds joy and purpose in lifting others up.

Currently, she mentors two lawyers who are between jobs, helping them rebuild their confidence and chart their next professional moves. For her, mentorship means more than advice—it’s about being a steady presence during times of uncertainty.

She also speaks publicly on the importance of female representation in corporate law. One of her earliest public engagements was with the Mexican Corporate Counsel Association, where she joined a panel of women general counsels.

“My message was clear: women lawyers shouldn’t have to choose between a fulfilling personal life and a successful career,” Maurin says.

For Maurin, that means advocating for more than just policies—it means companies must provide real, actionable support for women, including meaningful maternity leave, thoughtful reintegration practices, and equal respect for women who choose not to have children.

“Having a mentor or coach during pivotal career moments makes all the difference,” she adds.

Additionally, last year at Unilever, the company launched the UNMUTE policy, which supports employees experiencing domestic and/or family violence. This was implemented in Mexico and Brazil.

“I hired an institute specializing in gender-based violence where we had operations and cross-referenced it with our information. A policy was implemented to support these individuals, and a 24/7 hotline was created to report cases of violence, offering psychological support and guidance. This policy includes benefits—loans, paid vacation days, and changes to payroll cards,” she says.

A lot of women who experience violence lose their jobs, and their chances of escaping violence are 1 percent. This is not only true for women but also for vulnerable individuals. In the first year, 10 people received the benefits of this policy,” Maurin says.

She also brings that people-first mindset to hiring and retention. In many cases, she’s prioritized attitude and growth potential over technical expertise.

“I’ve been fortunate to build teams of highly talented lawyers who successfully tackled major, complex projects,” Maurin adds.

Retaining that talent, she acknowledges, has become increasingly complex in a competitive landscape—but she believes in investing in young professionals by offering international mobility, exposure to diverse leaders, and clear career pathways.

A complex legal landscape

While Maurin’s early years were spent in the highly regulated pharmaceutical industry, her recent transition to the consumer goods sector proved more demanding than expected. She initially assumed fewer regulations would mean a simpler role. Instead, she found herself facing an expansive and dynamic regulatory environment that required just as much diligence and foresight.

In her most recent position, she led legal operations across Latin America, initially focusing on Central America and the Caribbean before overseeing the entire region. She worked closely with health authorities in Brazil, Colombia, and Argentina, coordinating efforts with local counsel in every jurisdiction.

One of her key achievements in this role was fostering alignment across a widely dispersed legal team.

“Keeping them aligned with trends and case law across the region enabled proactive action,” she explains. It was a demanding role, complicated further by the need to report to a manager in Europe who wasn’t always attuned to the region’s nuances.

Another major milestone came during an intense government permitting project—what she describes as the most challenging chapter of her career.

“It was a race against time, with high stakes and intense pressure. I had to draw on every ounce of experience to craft a solution that protected the business.”

The project required cross-departmental collaboration and adept relationship management with government authorities, ultimately deepening her understanding of resilience and leadership.

In every role, Maurin has had to bridge the gap between legal complexity and business strategy.

“One of the greatest challenges is explaining complex legal risks to businesses, particularly when new legislation impacts operations,” she says. “But what I enjoy most is contributing to business goals through innovative legal solutions.”

Her commitment to staying ahead of the curve is evident in her involvement in industry forums and legal boards. She regularly connects with peers across sectors to exchange insights—always within the bounds of confidentiality and antitrust laws.

And when it comes to innovation, she’s particularly optimistic about AI’s potential.

“AI is a game-changer for legal teams,” Maurin says. “When used responsibly, it can significantly reduce workload by automating repetitive tasks.”

She sees AI as a tool for empowering legal teams to focus on higher-impact work and for supporting continuous legal education.

Rooted in purpose, balanced by family

In Maurin’s eyes, law isn’t just a profession—it’s a calling passed down through generations.

“Law is in my DNA—most of my family members are lawyers, including magistrates,” she says. From a young age, she was immersed in legal discussions, sparking a lifelong passion that ultimately led her to the world of in-house law.

She has always known she wanted to work closely with the business side of the law.

“I’m deeply passionate about building effective, business-oriented legal teams,” she says. “Sitting with the business and crafting legal solutions that protect both the company and its people is the most fulfilling part of my work.”

Outside of work, she finds joy and balance in family life. Married for more than 22 years, she’s a proud mother to two sons and a devoted fan at their weekend football matches. Her two dogs add to the bustle of home life, and swimming three times a week gives her precious moments of solitude.

“It’s my reset button—one uninterrupted hour of solitude where no one can reach me,” she says.

Strong friendships—whether with college friends or former colleagues—are another source of strength and perspective.

“Balancing work and personal life is a priority for me,” she reflects. “It keeps me energized, focused, and fulfilled—both as a lawyer and as a person.”

In a career that has spanned from courtroom conversations as a child to the boardrooms of multinational corporations, Maurin has left an indelible mark, not just through her legal accomplishments but also through the people she has coached, mentored, and believed in along the way. She is, above all else, a leader who lifts others, a strategist who listens, and a lawyer who never forgets the human element at the heart of every decision.