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Adriana Goncalves

Adriana Goncalves Apitz

Associate
Baker & McKenzie, S.C.

Biography

Adriana has more than 15 years of experience in comprehensive corporate counseling and international operations. She has been a member of Baker McKenzie since 2014, developing her practice in Corporate Law (M&A/PE), Healthcare & Life Sciences, Compliance, and Competition & Antitrust. Adriana is one of the five lawyers in the country who were shortlisted as “Venezuela Lawyer of the Year” in the Chambers Women in Law Awards: Latin America 2018, and she has been ranked as Associate to watch for two consecutive years by the 2023 and 2024 Chambers Latin America Legal Guide. She is also a member of the Firm’s LA Healthcare & Life Sciences Steering Committee, the LA M&A Steering Committee and the LA Inclusion Diversity & Equity Steering Committee.

Practice Focus

Adriana has assisted national and international clients in major M&A transactions. She has experience in comprehensive corporate counseling and in international trade transactions subject to customs and exchange control regulations. She has actively led and participated in global reorganization projects of major companies involving Venezuela. Adriana has vast experience assisting clients on the contractual aspect of M&A transactions and with the implementation side of such deals. In addition, Adriana has broad knowledge and experience in corporate governance and best practices.

Representative Legal Matters

  • Collaborated in the review and analysis of numerous agreements concerning consumer goods.
  • Advised in several global spin-off transactions of major companies in the healthcare and power sectors, including General Electric, Emerson and Suez.
  • Advised a major telecom company on a successful exit strategy from the country.

Professional Associations and Memberships

  • Caracas Bar Association - Member
  • Venezuelan Society of Commercial Law (SOVEDEM) - Member

Corporate Responsibility

  • Provided legal assistance in popular areas, organized by Universidad Metropolitana
  • Advised an important global healthcare foundation dedicated to immunotherapy research and molecular diagnostics

Admissions

  • Venezuela (2012)

Education

  • Harvard Business School (Digital Health) (2021)
  • Universidad Metropolitana (Diploma on Language Interpretation and Translation) (2019)
  • Universidad Metropolitana (LLM in Corporate Law) (2014)
  • Universidad Metropolitana (Bachelor in Liberal Studies) (2012)
  • Universidad Metropolitana (Law Degree) (2012)

Languages

  • English
  • French
  • Spanish
  • Panelist, "Fintech: Regulation and data protection in Venezuela," organized by Baker McKenzie, Second Edition of Caracas LegalTech, 2024.
  • Speaker, "The Buyer Due Diligence Report," Due Diligence University, Baker McKenzie LA M&A Steering Committee, 2024. 
  • Speaker, "Healthcare & Life Sciences 360: El sector salud bajo el radar de las autoridades de competencia," organized by the CEDEFLaw Institute. April 2023.
  • Co-author, "Venezuela," The Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption Review, Tenth Edition, 2021.
  • Panelist, "Compliance in the post-pandemic era: Recommendations to face increased US interest in fighting corruption in LatAm," 2021 Tech Talk Latin America Virtual Event, July 2021.
  • Speaker, "Vaccines in Venezuela. Challenges vis-à-vis the pandemic," Masterclass organized by Universidad Metropolitana and the Observatory of Bioethics and Law of Universidad Metropolitana. May 2021.
  • Co-author, "Venezuela," The Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption Review, Ninth Edition, 2020.
  • Co-author, "Venezuela," The Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption Review, Eight Edition, 2019.

Firm Committee Memberships

  • Healthcare & Life Sciences LA Steering Committee - Member
  • M&A LA Steering Committee - Member 
  • ID&E LA Steering Committee - Member