KermaPartners and UpWyse Celebrate Second Anniversary in the Dominican Republic

The strategic alliance between international consulting firms KermaPartners and UpWyse held a breakfast talk on legal strategy and business development in times of crisis, aimed at partners and executives from law firms in Santo Domingo. The event marked the second anniversary of both firms’ presence in the Dominican Republic.

Under the title "Business Development in Times of Uncertainty", partners Leopoldo Hernández Romano, managing partner at KermaPartners, and Natalia Villanueva Pimentel, partner at KermaPartners and UpWyse and regional leader for Central America and the Caribbean, led a dynamic conversation on how to lead, adapt, and grow in volatile environments.

The discussion addressed key risks faced by lawyers and their clients—from macroeconomic pressures to technological disruption—and how a well-designed strategy enables not only resilience but also evolution. Emphasis was also placed on preparing the next generation of lawyers with business acumen, relationship-building skills, and practical tools to foster trust and create value.

"In uncertain times, it’s not about freezing. It’s about moving with intention. Business development is not a sales act. It’s an act of leadership," said Natalia Villanueva, who emphasized the need to act with empathy, structure, and strategic thinking in every client interaction.

For his part, Hernández Romano reflected on the importance of organizational culture as a unifying axis: "There’s a well-known quote by Peter Drucker that says ‘culture eats strategy for breakfast.’ I give it a twist: ‘culture eats everything, because it feeds on and aligns with every element of the firm.’"

The event was held in a closed format, as part of KermaPartners | UpWyse’s ongoing commitment to strengthening the legal ecosystem in the Dominican Republic and Central America. The alliance will continue to promote training spaces, strategic dialogue, and connections among firms, consultants, and regional allies, with a focus on leadership, collaboration, and sustainable transformation.

About the KermaPartners | UpWyse Alliance

UpWyse and KermaPartners formed an alliance in 2020 to create a one-stop shop for law firms and corporate legal departments, offering comprehensive advisory services. These include strategic business consulting, corporate governance, succession planning for partners, attorney compensation models, marketing, communications, business development, rankings, and legal sector headhunting. They established a presence in the Dominican Republic in 2023, led by Natalia Villanueva Pimentel as the alliance’s representative partner for Central America and the Caribbean.