At Regional IBA Forum in Uruguay, Vance Center Events Feature Pro Bono and LGBTQ+ Rights

Official IBA Session: Pro Bono Breakfast

On March 25, the Vance Center participated in a pro bono breakfast panel discussion as part of the official IBA agenda at this year’s Latin American Regional Forum in Punta del Este, Uruguay. Session Co-Chairs and moderators Alvaro Carrau, Partner at Uruguayan law firm Bado Kuster Zerbino & Rachetti, and Patricia Silberman, Partner at Chilean law firm Carey and Membership Officer of the IBA’s Latin American Regional Forum, welcomed attendees and underscored the importance of integrating pro bono work in private sector practices. 

Moderators and speakers at the official IBA pro bono breakfast in Punta del Este, Uruguay, March 25, 2026. From left: Stephania Bresque, Alvaro Carrau, Beatriz Spiess, Jaime Chávez Alor, Patricia Silberman, Ignacio Obando Erbs, and Mariana Alvarez Gaiani. Photo credit: Vance Center

The rich panel discussion covered topics including best practices for private sector actors to implement pro bono programs, growing and measuring the social impact of pro bono work, and how cross-border partnerships with NGOs and law firms can strengthen corporate pro bono programs. The panel featured speakers from diverse sectors of the legal community: 

• Mariana Alvarez Gaiani, Managing Director of J.P. Morgan’s Legal Department for Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay  
• Stephania Bresque, Director of Legal Counsel at UPM Uruguay, a paper company working on sustainable pulp mill and forest industry production 
• Jaime Chávez Alor, Associate Executive Director at the Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice 
• Ignacio Obando Erbs, Co-Coordinator of the Pro Bono Network of the Americas  
• Beatriz Spiess, Partner at Guyer & Regules and Member of the Executive Committee at Fundación Pro Bono Uruguay 

Addressing an initial question on how companies can engage in pro bono partnerships, Alvarez Gaiani offered an example of a recent cybersecurity project on which J.P. Morgan partnered with Argentinian NGOs, law firms, and the Public Prosecutor’s office to provide tailored trainings for elderly populations on reducing the risk of cyberscams, and for adolescents on developing secure passwords and addressing other online threats to their safety. She emphasized that collaboration was key to the project’s success: by pairing J.P. Morgan’s technical expertise with NGOs’ existing trust and relationships with communities, they were able to more effectively reach a wider population in need of this information. 

Bresque highlighted UPM’s commitment to community development through education initiatives in Uruguay and shared that UPM has distributed more than 1,300 scholarships across the country, impacting more than 8,000 people. She discussed the importance of ensuring educational scholarships and training programs reach rural communities outside the capital of Montevideo.  

Chávez Alor discussed the role international networks play in facilitating impactful pro bono work with in-house legal teams. He outlined how the Vance Center coordinates this type of support along with national clearinghouses through the Pro Bono Network of the Americas. He noted that the Vance Center is exploring ways to partner with private sector lawyers on pro bono projects that match the capacity and expertise of these lawyers and their companies with requests from the Vance Center’s civil society clients. “Sprints,” or short-term sessions that bring together lawyers from different countries or subject areas to work on a defined research topic, offer one format for companies to contribute to pro bono projects. 

Chávez Alor and Obando, as co-coordinators of the Pro Bono Network of the Americas, both emphasized the need for better communication between law firms, companies, and NGOs working with civil society groups (at the national, regional, and international levels) to identify the greatest needs for pro bono work and how to effectively coordinate legal responses. 

From the law firm side, Spiess offered a recent example in which young lawyers at Guyer & Regules met informally to identify social issues around which to focus the firm’s pro bono work. She noted that informal discussion can benefit the firm’s overall pro bono programming as well as offer a way to meaningfully engage lawyers across different career stages by bringing ideas to law firm partners.  

Bresque emphasized that implementing programs that positively impact local communities can help companies demonstrate they are a “trustworthy neighbor” to the public and can boost pride among employees. 

In response to audience comments, panelists agreed that companies of all sizes can still have a strong social impact by engaging in pro bono work. They noted the importance of ensuring that all internal teams, including human resources, business development, and marketing, understand and support this commitment.

The session concluded with speakers emphasizing that strengthening pro bono practice in the business sector requires minimizing silos between partners across sectors, so resources and legal expertise ultimately reach the communities that need them most. 

Vance Center Associate Executive Director Jaime Chávez Alor (left) with members of the Fundación Pro Bono Uruguay, March 25, 2026. Photo credit: Vance Center

Sunset Event: Fostering Safe and Inclusive Workplaces

Later on March 25, dozens of attendees gathered for a scenic sunset talk, “Policies and Best Practices for Workplace Inclusion,” co-organized by the Vance Center in partnership with the Pro Bono Network of the Américas and law firms Benites, Vargas & Ugaz Abogados; Martínez de Hoz & Rueda; and Guyer & Regules.  

Speakers at the “Policies and Best Practices for Workplace Inclusion” event in Punta del Este, Uruguay, March 25, 2026. Back row (from left): Rossana Fernandes, Renato Guerrieri, Ignacio Meggiolaro, and Jaime Chávez Alor. Front row (from left): Ignacio Obando Erbs, Roxana Schäfer, Jorge Bárcenas, Pedro Villegas, and Aldo del Pino Juliani. Photo credit: Diego Battiste

The discussion brought together legal practitioners and advocates from across the region to examine steps Latin American law firms and companies have taken to support the LGBTQ+ community––both internally and externally––and what more they can do. 

Vance Center Associate Executive Director Jaime Chávez Alor gives opening remarks at the sunset event in Punta del Este, Uruguay, March 25, 2026. Photo credit: Diego Battiste

The Vance Center’s Jaime Chávez Alor welcomed participants and introduced the panelists: 

• Aldo del Pino Juliani, Human Resources Coordinator and Talent Manager at Coca-Cola FEMSA Uruguay 
• Jorge Bárcenas, Business Development and Positioning Director at Peruvian law firm Benites, Vargas & Ugaz 
• Ignacio Meggiolaro, Partner at Argentine law firm Martínez de Hoz & Rueda 
• Renato Guerrieri, Partner at Uruguayan law firm Guyer & Regules 
• Rossana Fernandes, Partner at Brazilian law firm Mattos Filho 
• Roxana Schäfer, Partner at Mexican law firm Galicia Abogados 

The speakers described actions by their organizations to foster a safe and inclusive workplace. Examples included internal practices like creating committees to ensure there are safe spaces for conversations on DEI, developing protocols to support colleagues who are transitioning, and offering flexibility for diverse family leave needs.  

They also shared insights on how these practices can extend beyond the firm, from the word choice used in mottos and external communications to the events and communities that the organization chooses to sponsor.

Panelists underscored the importance of implementing inclusive policies and practices across all career levels. This includes supporting career growth and professional development of LGBTQ+ individuals and ensuring a diverse leadership team. The panel concluded with speakers agreeing that meaningful and effective workplace inclusion must be a priority for all teams and across hierarchies, not just for those who are part of the LGBTQ+ community. 

Attendees listen to panelist Rossana Fernandes speak at the “Policies and Best Practices for Workplace Inclusion” event. Additional panelists pictured (from right): Roxana Schäfer, Ignacio Meggiolaro, Renato Guerrieri, Jorge Bárcenas, and Aldo del Pino Juliani, March 25, 2026. Photo credit: Diego Battiste

After the panel, Vance Center Pro Bono Legal Manager Pedro Villegas presented key findings from a recent survey on diversity, equity, and inclusion distributed to legal professionals in Latin America in partnership with regional industry outlet LexLatin. Pro Bono Network of the Americas Co-Coordinator Ignacio Orbando Erbs offered concluding remarks, calling on speakers and audience members alike to continue their commitment to fostering safe and diverse workplaces. 

The full survey will be available soon. 

Vance Center Senior Impact Associate Shaydah Ghom (left) and Pro Bono Legal Manager Pedro Villegas (right) with speaker Aldo del Pino Juliani in Punta del Este, Uruguay, March 25, 2026. Photo credit: Diego Battiste