CONTACT INFORMATION:
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Summary of professional activity:
August 1997 - Present:
Manager of Legal Affairs of 'Minera Loma de Níquel, C.A.', the Venezuelan subsidiary of Anglo American plc, a leading worldwide investor in natural resources. Responsible for all legal aspects of the Loma de Niquel Project, a US$550 MM operation for the exploitation of a ferronickel deposit located in Venezuela. Keeper of corporate records. Responsible for processing and analysing contract proposals, as well as the project financing legal documentation. Coordinates use of external legal professional services (Sullivan & Cromwell, Baker McKenzie etc). Advises on tax planning, foreign investments, labor and industrial property law. Responsible for supervising compliance of the Good Citizenship Code. Member of the Public Affairs Committee and active in liaising with local authorities. Reports to the Executive Director, while providing general legal assistance to directors and managers in the operation.
March 1993 - July 1997:
Manager of Legal Affairs of Venezuelan subsidiaries of 'Monarch Resources Limited', a mining holding group incorporated in Bermuda and listed on the London and Toronto stock exchanges, specialized in gold mining exploration and exploitation activities. Responsible for the negotiation, processing and evaluation of contractual proposals for the Group in Venezuela, Mexico and Argentina (acquisitions, purchase options, joint ventures, exploration leases, mergers, etc.). Adviser on environmental legal regulations in mining, on the legal framework of mining concessions and civil, commercial and administrative laws and regulations in general. Responsible for the Company legal services, in coordination with the corresponding external advisers, and the internal lawyer in charge of legal consulting for the group at a regional level.
August 1991 - February 1993:
In-House Legal Counsel of Otepi Consultores, S.A., a Venezuelan engineering consulting firm providing professional engineering services to world-class companies in the oil industry and petrochemical sector. Performs practice in many areas with particular emphasis on corporate taxation, labor and environmental legislation. Responsible for contract preparation and court petitions.
October 1989 - July 1991:
Junior Partner and Managing Attorney of 'Zerpa Gouverneur, Velez & Associates' , a Venezuelan law firm specializing in foreign investment legalities and public debt-equity swaps. Responsible for a main client, C.V.G. Carbonorca, an industrial complex for the production of carbon anodes. In charge of the Industrial Property Department. Responsible for the direct handling of all legal matters associated with this public company.
March 1988 - September 1989:
Member of the Legal Department (first as legal assistant, then as a lawyer) of 'C.V.G. Venalum', a large aluminum smelting complex, and a branch of the multi-sectorial State holding of companies, C.V.G.. During this period, performed as Secretary of the Board of Directors of Aluyana, C.A., an international private aluminum joint venture with public participation. Assistant to the Executive Secretary of the President of the 'Corporacion Venezolana de Guayana' (CVG).
August 1985 - February 1988 :
Solicitor trainee at 'Torres, Plaz & Araujo', a Venezuelan tax law firm.
Academic Background:
Bachelor in Humanities, Humboldt, Caracas, Venezuela, 1982.
Law degree, Catholic University of Andres Bello, Caracas, Venezuela, 1988.
VIII Program of Management for Lawyers, Institute of Superior Studies of Administration, 1989.
Specialization (Masters) in Financial Law, Catholic University of Andres Bello, Caracas, Venezuela, 1995.
Seminars: 'Mining 2001: Global Issues in Corporate Mining Strategy and Government Policy' - Dundee, Scotland. June 2001 (Sponsored by Aaplc); 'International Resources Law II' A Blueprint for Mineral Development, Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, Denver,Colorado. February 1995.
Personal Background:
Born in Caracas, Venezuela on 25 October 1965. Age: 37. Married, five children. Attended LaSalle (Primary) and Humboldt (High School). Exchange student (AFS) in Montreal, Canada for one year (1982-83). Participant in the 'First Ship for the World Youth', an international goodwill event sponsored by the government of Japan (1989) through Japan, the United States and Mexico.
Fluent in Spanish, English and French (written and verbal). Basic German, Italian and Portuguese skills.
Advanced word processing, database development, handling and research of general, legal and corporate information
with the aid of the Internet.
Professional Associations:
Director of the Mining Chamber of Venezuela (CAMIVEN) (2000-2002, reelected for 2002-2004).
Bar of Attorneys of the Federal District (Caracas) and Miranda State (04-11-89, no.19,103).
Inpreabogado (11-04-89, practice license no. 32,080).
Venezuelan Association of Financial Law (ASOVEDEFI), since 1996; founding member.
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