Catalina Suso
Solicitor
Canterbury,England
Summary
Dynamic and resilient Legal Executive with over 7 years of international experience with a passion for problem solving, communication and building solid client relations, driving strategic legal initiatives across telecoms, media, and technology sectors in both business and consumer law. Skilled in leading high-value transactions, mitigating global legal risks, and providing executive-level counsel to senior leadership. Full proficiency in Microsoft Office and legal databases such as Westlaw and Lexis enhancing the ability to deliver comprehensive legal solutions.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
European Counsel
Viasat
Remote , UK
06.2022 - Current
- Reporting to Global General Counsel for Fixed Broadband, advising Viasat with its multiple, complex transactions for the businesses' GFB wholesale, retail, B2B and B2C operations across EMEA, USA and APAC.
- Managed c.200 distributor migration following EBI's acquisition of Eutelsat's wholesale business in Europe, negotiating and closing new MDAs with distributors across multiple EMEA jurisdictions (e.g. UK, Germany, Italy, France, Greece, Turkey, Tunisia and UAE, including major telecom providers such as BT, Albanian Sat Comms, and Telespazio). Procured favorable terms for the business protecting and reflecting Viasat's most current policies and commercial model, while liaising with local counsel where needed to ensure local compliance, and driving multi-million pound revenue to EBI's acquired KA-SAT business.
- Accelerated Viasat's expansion in Europe, providing legal support to Procurement, Finance, Commercial and Operations teams while drafting, negotiating and advising on complex vendor agreements and supporting business plans that were vital setting up Viasat's backbone in preparation for satellite VS-3. This includes closing a multi million pound contract (5M USD annual spend) after a very complex negotiation with an US vendor that was key to secure the maintenance of Viasat's SAN sites across EMEA, having advised on multiple international legal issues (including agency, tax and employment related risk), mitigating legal and finance risks and minimizing exposure for Viasat while securing clear obligations and SLAs from the vendor, and liaising with local external counsel to reflect country specific requirements.
- As EMEA Legal's main point of contact, I have drafted and set up multiple templates for EBI's emerging KA-SAT operations across EMEA, alongside local counsel to ensure local compliance, including master distribution agreements and product schedules, partner communications, license and consultancy agreements, reflecting requirements of our Regulatory, Commercial, Tax, Finance, and different relevant teams. Additionally, I manage the resolution of customer disputes and complaints for both our Wholesale (B2B) business across EMEA and Residential (B2C) business in Spain. This includes having settled 2 customer disputes (c.200K EUR) this year in Italy and France, which avoided litigation costs for Viasat by finding efficient, convenient solutions for the business and counter-party.
- Appointed in August 2023 as Counsel for US Residential Business, now supporting Viasat's US wholesale and residential business in addition to EMEA, advising Sales, Fulfilment, Care, Product and multiple business US stakeholders with Viasat's agreements and relationships with US distributors, master agents and customers. Following Viasat's recent migration to a new salesforce, set up and negotiated a new Reseller and Master Agent templates reflecting the company's current requirements and new pricing model, and negotiated more than 10 deals with Resellers across the US driving sales volume, ensuring the business has favorable terms adapted to Viasat's current policies and regulations, as well as new agreements with 2 major wholesale partners in Florida and Colorado, with improved contractual rights for Viasat vis-a-vis legacy contracts.
- Took ownership as Viasat's contractual point of contact and legal lead for projects with European Space Agency, procuring more than 20M Euro in funding for Viasat's R&D projects in Switzerland and the Netherlands, for developing new satcom technologies, including a 200K EUR satellite project with the Swiss Army.
- Advised Viasat Spain Retail (Consumer) as main legal advisor in deals with vendors, agents and distributors in fixed broadband, creating and updating consumer terms and conditions and product policies vis-a-vis consumer regulations and business interests, and working alongside external legal counsel where required.
Legal Counsel
Vodafone
London and Newbury
05.2020 - 06.2022
- Advised Vodafone's Consumer Business Unit as its main Legal support in complex legal transactions with Vodafone’s main customers, resellers and distributors and media partnerships and talent/sponsorship agreements, consumer campaigns, product launches and regulatory projects, across mobile, CIoT and fixed broadband.
- Negotiated, drafted and reviewed a variety of B2B contracts within agreed risk appetite, closing more than 7 multi million-pound agreements with Vodafone's major distributors and retailers (including Curry's, ASDA and SIM Local), securing more than 20M GBP annual revenue. Presented risks and mitigation strategies of these new transactions to Vodafone’s CEO in UK, successfully securing approval. This ensured protecting Vodafone contractually after a history of 10 years of not having agreements with these parties.
- Drafted and negotiated complex marketing partnership and sponsorship agreements with high profile athletes and talents sponsored by Vodafone, such as Vodafone's sponsorship of British Lions South Africa Tour 2021, Elton John for Hyde Park Festival, Goodwood and Wimbledon (contract with Emma Raducanu), securing high value and brand visibility for Vodafone, while navigating through complex legal issues such as ensuring the agreements' compliance with marketing, tax and sponsorship regulations, while managing Vodafone's leverage to negotiate indemnities and terms on liability protecting Vodafone's against sponsored parties and third parties participating in sponsored events.
- Provided expert legal advice on legal and compliance risks for the business on multiple areas (contract law, agency and distribution, IPR, regulatory, business and consumer law) across a varied product portfolio and engaging with legal and non-legal stakeholders. As main (legal) point of contact and support to Indirect’s channel, provided day to day legal and commercial advice, understanding and reflecting in drafting the businesses’ new commercial deals, pricing (commissions) structure, and business interests in agreements with major distributors, multiple retailers and marketing partners (e.g. Revolut, ASDA, Curry's), as well as with Vodafone's different vendor agreements for its supply chain in Value Added Services (e.g. Twilio and Google).
- Drafted complex legal documents and agreements relating to distribution, IP licenses and sponsorship/talent agreements, supplier agreements with Vodafone's customers across various infrastructure services and technology as well as consumer facing terms and policies, working hand in hand with Regulatory, Privacy, Finance and other relevant stakeholders to cover business interests and ensure compliance and keeping up to date with changing regulation (e.g. EECC and new DMA).
- Built strong work relations with business stakeholders (in particular Vodafone's Indirects Team), contributing to their trust in the Legal team and improving business-to-legal communications by conducting engaging trainings (e.g. topics ranging from essential contract terms "must haves" to confidentiality, competition and IP), weekly communication spaces, contract playbooks and guidelines to help teams during negotiations.
Product and Transformation Legal Specialist
Vodafone
Newbury HQ
06.2019 - 05.2020
- Built and nurtured productive client relationships in Vodafone's Enterprise team, drafting and negotiating a variety of agreements for the provision of Vodafone's technology and services with private and public sector clients.
- Provided expert legal and contractual advice alongside Senior Counsel Enterprise on Vodafone's relationships with Majors, Regional and Partner & Alliance channels, identifying regulatory risks with Critical Infrastructure and Public Sector customers while mitigating potential disputes in decommissioning of legacy technology and services.
- Lead negotiations and drafted new agreements for new fixed and voice technologies, supporting decommissioning activity as 3G shutdown.
- Managed senior stakeholders in critical projects, leading due-diligence of contracts with major CNI customers, and providing advice based on the business’ contractual position and commercial interests.
- Advised Vodafone in decisions of high commercial and technical impact in network decommissioning activity, and providing contractual advice regarding Vodafone’s customers and partners.
- Led the decommissioning of Paknet and SIP services, advising Vodafone regarding its contractual obligations and regulations for high risk CNI customers, reviewing communications and advising on webinars to Account Teams, and managing migration of c.300 legacy accounts.
Junior Associate -Litigation,Arbitration&Competion
Garrigues (Spain's leading law firm)
Bogota DC
10.2016 - 05.2018
- Achieved 8 successful trademark registrations and advised on different IP licenses with clients from different sectors (Technology, Security, Retail, and Agriculture companies).
- Designed legal strategies and achieved favorable judicial decisions in competition, consumer and commercial proceedings, including successful registration of trademars like “Medcann”, highlighted as a remarkable defence by the media.
- Represented companies from banking, pharmaceutical, travel and technology sectors in mediations and disputes and primordially startups with setting up technology platforms in Colombia. Led a conciliation with construction company Contain S.A., and having obtained a favourable settlement for my client, Burger King, avoiding litigation costs (>500,000 USD claim). Achieved approval of a multi-million dollar merger between Integra and Prosegur (Spanish leading security companies) by the Colombian Industry and Commerce Superintendence.
- Assessed clients with antitrust and compliance risks entailed in their business plan and marketing campaigns
- Drafted and tailored complex, high value (20,000-1M USD) agreements protecting my clients' interests.
Assistant Professor and Conciliator
Universidad de los Andes
Bogota DC
06.2013 - 05.2017
Volunteer Manager
AMESE Foundation
Bogota DC
01.2016 - 12.2016
- Advised women with breast cancer in their legal proceedings before public health authorities and coordinated the agreement between the AMESE Foundation and the Legal Clinic of my university
Summer Intern (Litigation & Insolvency Department)
Brigard & Urrutia (Colombia's leading law firm)
Bogota DC
05.2016 - 07.2016
Legal Analyst
Superintendencia de Sociedades (Companies House)
Bogota DC
01.2016 - 06.2016
- Lead the research of corporate regulations and case law, and drafted rulings deciding commercial disputes between companies and shareholders
Education
Introduction to marketing course - Business/Marketing
Wharton Business School
Online2020
Master of Laws (LLM) - International Business Law, Privacy, Competition and Advanced US and EU litigation
London School of Economics and Political Science
London12.2019
Juris Doctor - Law
Universidad de los Andes
Bogota DC10.2017
Skills
- Complex contract drafting and negotiation
- Legal advising and risk analysis
- Commercial and Consumer law
- Intellectual Property
- Effective communication
- Problem solving
- Stakeholder management and client relations
- Advanced interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence ("Mastering EQ" TalentSmartEQ course 2024)
- Full proficiency in Microsoft Office and legal data bases (Westlaw and Lexis)
Certification
- Solicitor - England and Wales (Solicitors Regulation Authority)
- Abogado - Colombia (Consejo Superior de la Judicatura)
Additional Information
- Spanish citizen with the right to work in UK and EU
Languages
English
Fluent
Spanish
Native
French
Intermediate
Timeline
European Counsel
Viasat
06.2022 - Current
Legal Counsel
Vodafone
05.2020 - 06.2022
Product and Transformation Legal Specialist
Vodafone
06.2019 - 05.2020
Junior Associate -Litigation,Arbitration&Competion
Garrigues (Spain's leading law firm)
10.2016 - 05.2018
Summer Intern (Litigation & Insolvency Department)
Brigard & Urrutia (Colombia's leading law firm)
05.2016 - 07.2016
Volunteer Manager
AMESE Foundation
01.2016 - 12.2016
Legal Analyst
Superintendencia de Sociedades (Companies House)
01.2016 - 06.2016
Assistant Professor and Conciliator
Universidad de los Andes
06.2013 - 05.2017
Introduction to marketing course - Business/Marketing
Wharton Business School
Master of Laws (LLM) - International Business Law, Privacy, Competition and Advanced US and EU litigation
London School of Economics and Political Science
Juris Doctor - Law
Universidad de los Andes
Similar Profiles
Sam BadgerSam Badger
Software Engineer – Data, Machine Learning, and Microservices at ViasatSoftware Engineer – Data, Machine Learning, and Microservices at Viasat
Kimberlee HindmanKimberlee Hindman
Project Planner at ViaSatProject Planner at ViaSat
Tarik RileyTarik Riley
Lead System Engineer at ViasatLead System Engineer at Viasat