Dentons names Uruguay-based executive as new CEO

Dentons names Uruguay-based executive as new CEO

Jorge Alers, who led the firm's expansion in the region, will be replaced by Paloma Gomez

In a move that effectively ends nearly six years after the company first entered the region, Jorge Alers will step down from the position shortly. Dentons has named Paloma Gomez as its new Latin America and Caribbean region CEO replacing Jorge Alers.

As the new president, Gomez will take over from 1 February 2022, tasked to build on Alers' achievements at Dentons by expanding the company from zero Latin American and Caribbean offices in 2016 till date having presence in 28 countries in the region.

Previously, Gomez served as director of business development for Sánchez DeVanny Eseverri in Mexico and chief client and markets officer for Latin America and the Caribbean when he joined the firm's Bogota office in 2018 as a partner. Presently, she is in Dentons Jiménez de Aréchaga, which operates out of Montevideo.

Dentons Global CEO, Elliot Portnoy said: "This transition has long been planned and I am confident in Paloma's ability to understand the dynamic needs of our clients along with her experience as a lawyer and a leader, which will position the firm well.

We work to build an even more integrated region that will benefit other areas of Dentons." Dentons will continue to rely on Alers to focus on leadership roles globally, said Portnoy. Alers joined Dentons in 2014 from the Inter-American Development Bank, in Washington DC, where he was GC.

In setting out Dentons' strategy to become the sole law firm in Latin America and the Caribbean, global chairman Joe Andrew said: "We found Jorge Alers, the ideal person to lead our efforts when we decided to hire the CEO first. As of May 1, 2016, Dentons had no offices in Latin America or the Caribbean. Currently, Dentons has 34 offices in 28 countries throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. Jorge Alers was solely responsible for this historic accomplishment. Without him, it wouldn't have happened."

Dentons, through its combination with local firm Guevara & Gutiérrez, became the first global firm to open an office in Bolivia in 2021. Additionally, the company announced a partnership with Ecuadorian firm Paz Horowitz in 2021, while the combination with Buenos Aires firm Rattagan Macchiavello Arocena took effect in May 2020.

"Paloma has been a fundamental part of strategic planning for Latin American countries from the beginning," stated Alers. In addition to her incredible contributions to date, her appointment as LAC regional CEO is a testament to her capability to help the region achieve even greater success.

Earlier in January 2022, Dentons named Sonia Martin as chief executive for its US operations. Martin previously served as managing partner of the firm's San Francisco and Oakland offices. She took over the position six months after former incumbent, Mike McNamara left the post in the middle of his term.