Leadership within the legal industry is crucial for law firms’ effective operation and growth. Partners in law firms are often seen as the leaders who shape the firm’s culture, strategic direction, and overall success. They manage internal operations and represent the firm externally, which includes networking and building client relationships. Effective leadership requires strong management skills, excellent communication abilities, and a deep understanding of the legal landscape. Partners must navigate complex challenges, including business development and maintaining the firm’s reputation.
Diego Andrade is a Partner at BALL PLLC and an International Corporate lawyer with a wealth of experience in Latin America. His background includes work in private practice, government, compliance, and ethics, as well as knowledge of laws that apply extraterritorially like the FCPA, UKBA, and OFAC sanctions. He has expertise across various industries, including energy, utilities, pharmaceuticals, nutrition, and automotive.
As a dedicated legal executive focused on helping companies succeed and grow, Mr. Andrade strives to use the law to enable positive outcomes rather than limit possibilities. He has developed creative legal solutions to address business challenges. He offers practical and effective advice for navigating the complexities of international business, especially in Latin America, as well as in the Middle East and the European Union.
The Journey and Expertise in the Legal Industry
Mr. Andrade has been practicing law since 1992 and earned his degrees from various prestigious institutions. He obtained his J.D. from Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico in 1992, his Dr. iur. in International and EU Law from the University of Vienna in 1994, and his LL.M. from The University of Chicago Law School in 1996. Mr. Andrade has worked in private practice at well-respected law firms in Mexico, the European Union, and the United States, and he also has significant in-house experience across different industries and countries.
Throughout his career, Mr. Andrade has held various roles in both public and private sectors. Notably, he served as an external advisor to the government during the Mexico-EU Free Trade Agreement negotiation. He has also worked as an attorney for the Mexican Federal Economic Competition Commission and as in-house counsel overseeing Latin America for major multinational companies in sectors such as automotive, nutrition, pharmaceuticals, energy, and utilities. Mr. Andrade has successfully negotiated major settlements, developed debt arrangements in Latin America, and secured significant contracts in high-profile tenders throughout the Americas.
Redefining Corporate Law with a Client-Centric Approach
BALL PLLC is an emerging global law firm with offices in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. In addition to its own offices, the company has a global network of attorneys and consultants. Additionally, it is a Houston-based, corporate, transactional law firm with a strong focus on international business. Mr. Andrade was invited to join BALL PLLC at the end of 2022.
The firm has grown and expanded its presence ever since.
Mr. Andrade identifies with the vision of the firm’s founder, Aaron Ball, to provide a more contemporary approach to client services. It operates in a cost-effective manner and serves as a one-stop shop for various legal needs. Most of the partners were former in-house attorneys before joining private practice. Therefore, the firm focuses on understanding and serving the business of the client.
Mr. Andrade has been responsible for extending the firm’s footprint in the Americas Region. When he joined BALL PLLC, outside the US, it only had an office in Bolivia. Now, the firm also has offices in Mexico, Brazil, and Argentina. The biggest challenge has been to fully integrate foreign legal teams into one group with the same philosophy and modus operandi.
“Much has been accomplished, but there is still room for improvement. Constructing a vision is always an ongoing task.” Mr. Andrade says.
The Multifaceted Role and Innovative Approach
The firm is on a mission to help its clients succeed by creating opportunities and minimizing risks. It focuses on a client-centered approach to service and continually strives to improve the experience for its clients. It considers itself part of the core team of each client and measures its success based on the positive outcomes achieved for them.
The teams take a broader view of their role with their experience, seeing themselves as lawyers as well as strategic problem solvers. This is why BALL PLLC offers enhanced services in areas such as business intelligence, thorough due diligence, investigations, IT and physical security, and change management.
BALL PLLC refers to this approach as its “FIRM” method: Fully Integrated Risk Management©. By using multidisciplinary teams, it provides a more comprehensive strategy for managing risks rather than just relying on written documents. As a result, BALL PLLC delivers effective and practical guidance, leading to improved performance for its clients.
Comprehensive Solutions for Business Success
BALL PLLC specializes in legal services and business intelligence services. Lawyers and security professionals work cross-functionally in matters of enhanced due diligence, investigations, governance, compliance, and regulatory management issues. Its unique combination of legal services, intelligence, and security allows it to design proper strategies for its clients, ranging from target data review in the event of acquisition to the actual physical security of executives operating in hostile environments.
The attorneys at BALL PLLC are not just project-based lawyers or costly hired experts. Instead, they focus their attention on a select number of client companies, allowing them to understand what drives each business. Because of this approach, clients receive guidance from experienced attorneys who are familiar with their specific business and industry, providing timely and practical services.
The advisors at BALL PLLC come from some of the top military organizations in the world, including the Navy Seals, US Army Special Forces, and Delta Force. It also includes experts from corporate security, cyber operations, and investigators from government agencies and leading industries. These advisors collaborate with the broader legal BALL PLLC team to create actionable intelligence and implement strategies aimed at solving real-world problems.
Combining Legal and Intelligence Expertise
In addition to external legal advice, BALL PLLC provides Outside General Counsel & Legal Services (OGCLS). The firm offers 24/7 access at a fraction of the cost. OGCLS Practice Group handles strategic and day-to-day legal matters at a fraction of the cost of either full-time in-house counsel or law firms. OGCLS clients have a close working relationship with a lead attorney and designated team who knows their business well.
Clients can access any of its other attorneys at any time for answers requiring special expertise. Its OGCLS team members average over 30 years of industry and legal experience and, for clients who subscribe to an OGCLS plan, they all bill at the same rate (One Rate™), so clients know what they are paying and always know they are speaking with someone who understands their needs.
The firm also has a consulting arm for business intelligence. BALL PLLC combines legal, cybersecurity, HUMINT (Human Intelligence), and OSINT (Open-Source Intelligence) expertise to provide deep, current, and comprehensive insight within the context of the client’s specific needs.
The Global Reach
The firm provides legal services in various areas of corporate law and governance. These areas include commercial transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and divestitures. The firm also assists with joint ventures, restructuring and reorganizations, and contract matters. Additionally, the firm offers expertise in real estate, environmental law, compliance, and ethics, as well as labor and employment issues. It supports clients in project finance and infrastructure matters and provides regulatory guidance. It also handles bids and tenders. All these services are available on a cross-border basis. The firm operates as a global team, ensuring comprehensive support for its clients.
BALL PLLC has offices in Buenos Aires, Dallas, Houston, Jakarta, Madrid, Mendoza, Mexico City, Santa Cruz, São Paulo, and Washington, D.C. Its attorneys are admitted to the following jurisdictions: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Spain, United States, United Kingdom and Venezuela.
The Commitment to Risk Management
In today’s world, being afraid to take risks is not a viable option. Instead, BALL PLLC needs to embrace calculated risks. It is essential to create a culture of positivity and determination that reflects its identity and demonstrates to clients how this approach benefits them. The more trust the firm builds with its clients, the more it can innovate. When clients see the firm’s services as valuable, achieving profitability becomes possible, and stability can be expected.
To reach this point, it is essential to communicate – “who we are, why we do things the way we do, and convince our audience that we can meet their needs.”
To handle risk-taking and decision-making in its business, the firm consistently identifies, assesses, and reduces risks. Along with managing current risks, it uses various prevention strategies through enhanced due diligence. This approach is applied to protect its clients and in its own activities. By being meticulous, the firm also sets a positive example for its clients.
The Client-Focused Strategy
For BALL PLLC, the clients are the main focus and purpose. The firm is dedicated to helping clients solve their problems and supporting their business growth and success. Every interaction between the attorneys, advisors, and clients should create value. The team works daily to enhance the client experience and exceed their expectations. Each relationship starts with a detailed assessment of the client’s legal needs, allowing the firm to understand the client and their business better. This enables them to provide informed advice on steps the client should take to protect their interests, reduce risks, improve compliance, and plan for the future.
The attorneys at BALL PLLC act as essential business advisors rather than just legal technicians. Their extensive experience as in-house attorneys gives them a deep understanding of the client’s need for clear and timely legal advice. This enhances business operations, as well as effective management of the work and costs associated with outside counsel. The firm offers a practical, business-oriented approach to problem-solving that clients can apply daily in a cost-effective manner. The firm consistently provides clients with clear, concise, and accurate legal advice aimed at reducing business risks and maximizing the company’s potential.
Staying Innovative in the Industry
To remain innovative and competitive in the legal industry, BALL PLLC continuously adapts while staying true to its identity. It takes great pride in its values, modus operandi, and culture. The firm embraces cost-effective practices and avoids silos. This approach sets it apart from traditional big law firms that have high overhead costs, which are often passed on to clients. It is a dynamic organization that is always evolving, using technology to manage costs and ensure it is accessible to clients whenever and wherever they need assistance.
Building Relationships Across Distances
BALL PLLC and its team have a strong track record of working remotely while also being available for in-person meetings in the US and abroad. This approach has not gone unnoticed by clients, who view the firm as an integral part of their operations rather than just a separate third-party service provider.
The firm’s success is driven by several factors: (i) its ability and willingness to understand the client’s business, (ii) its commitment to timely and cost-effective service, (iii) its use of technology, (iv) its dynamic way of working, and (v) its combination of modern work methods with traditional interpersonal skills that focus on building trustworthy and lasting relationships.
Integration of Technology in the Legal Industry
BALL PLLC has changed the traditional way of working by acting as an extension of its clients. It functions as an “external-internal” legal team, providing its services directly to clients. The firm offers flexible pricing options, which can include volume-based rates, flat rates, or a combination of both. Its OGCLS Practice Group features a distinctive “One Rate”™ billing system, where clients who subscribe to an OGCLS Service Plan pay a single, low hourly rate for all OGCLS attorneys, regardless of their experience level or area of expertise. Clients with an OGCLS Service Plan also benefit from a dedicated service team, the option for on-site collaboration at no extra cost, and discounted initial consultation hours.
BALL PLLC utilizes all the typical technological tools found in the legal services industry. This includes computer-assisted legal research, business research, risk management service engines, and advanced cloud-based software for managing documents, timekeeping, billing, and trust accounting. These tools help the firm work efficiently and in a way that is friendly to clients. The expertise of the firm’s intelligence group has also assisted clients in safeguarding their information, preparing for cybersecurity threats, and making use of advanced technology and investigative skills.
Leading with Humanity and Advice for Fellow Leaders
Mr. Andrade believes that effective leadership starts with understanding human nature. His passion for reading history helps him learn from humanity and view life from various perspectives. To guide people in the right direction and build a successful venture, he believes in the importance of inspiration, which can only be achieved by leading by example. In a partnership, inspiring leadership requires a strong connection among team members. It’s essential to convince peers and create a bond based on shared goals and expectations. Leaders must continually present clear and actionable plans to gain support. Managing expectations is also crucial.
Mr. Andrade emphasizes that ambition and vision alone are not enough for success; corporate diplomacy is necessary. To help others understand one’s perspective, one first needs to understand theirs. This requires humility, emotional intelligence, listening skills, gathering personal insights, and a willingness to compromise.
Once transparency is established, it is important to address operational realities to ensure alignment with organizational goals. Leaders must communicate their vision and inspire others to join in, rather than imposing ideas. They should bring out the best in everyone by telling them what they want but not how to get there. Respect their intelligence, recognize their pride, maintain a positive attitude, and mitigate negativity. Hold people accountable while also acknowledging their contributions. Convey a sense of mission, common good, and belonging. Leading is a big balancing act of human behavior coupled with the need to attain strategic outcomes.
