Pilar Villa

María del Pilar Villa is an international attorney with extensive experience advising U.S. and Latin American companies on complex commercial, regulatory, and cross-border matters. Her practice focuses on guiding businesses through the legal and strategic considerations involved in entering, operating, and expanding in the United States, particularly in highly regulated industries such as energy, infrastructure, and environmental services.

Pilar brings a unique blend of in-house and external counsel experience. She has served as Special Counsel on high-value transactions exceeding $300 million, providing strategic contractual guidance, conducting comprehensive due diligence, and advising on risk mitigation for large-scale energy and infrastructure projects. Her work is informed by a deep understanding of regulatory frameworks and practical business objectives, allowing her to deliver solutions that are both legally sound and commercially effective.

Previously, Pilar served as General Counsel for a global advertising group with international operations, where she established and led the legal department, implemented internal governance and compliance frameworks, and advised senior leadership on contracts, intellectual property, employment law, and regulatory compliance across multiple jurisdictions. In this role, she worked closely with executive teams to support business growth while managing legal risk in cross-border operations.

Earlier in her career, Pilar advised multinational industrial and energy companies on environmental law, power purchase agreements, EPC contracts, and major infrastructure developments, including projects supporting multi-billion-dollar industrial facilities. She also served as Counsel to Guatemala’s national electricity regulatory authority, where she analyzed complex energy disputes and contributed to legally binding regulatory decisions, providing her with a rare insider’s perspective on regulatory enforcement and compliance.

Pilar holds an LL.M. from The University of Texas School of Law, with a focus on Energy Law, International Arbitration, and Environmental Law, and is admitted to practice in New York and Guatemala. Fluent in cross-border legal and business environments, she is particularly well-positioned to assist Latin American companies navigating U.S. legal structures and compliance requirements, as well as U.S. companies expanding their operations into Latin America.