Gustavo González Clement
My name is Gustavo González Clement and I’m from Buenos Aires. I studied law at Universidad Católica Argentina while working as a paralegal and, in my senior year, decided to specialize in business law. That’s what led me to move to Madrid, to pursue the Master of Laws (LL.M.). It’s a program that I hope will help me build a career as a legal consultant in my home country’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
The most important thing in life for me is friendship and the bonds we create with others. This is a principle that I also carry into my professional life: I value teamwork and communication very highly. When it comes to my personal life, I enjoy music, cooking and sports—especially soccer, which is my greatest passion.
"Working together is very important. That’s probably where I’ve learned the most, both by myself and with my colleagues."
Why did you choose IE Law School for your Master of Laws (LL.M.)?
For sure, it was my experience with business law, the corporate world and entrepreneurship that made me choose IE Law School to pursue my master’s degree.
IE University is known for focusing on the entrepreneurial ecosystem, not only in its approach and the type of classes offered, but also in the extracurricular activities. The best example of this are the events in Area 31, a space where IE alumni can pitch their startups and where talks on the entrepreneurial ecosystem are hosted every week.
What’s your favorite thing about the Master of Laws (LL.M.)? What area did you decide to specialize in and why?
My favorite aspect of the Master of Laws (LL.M.) is the quality of the faculty. All faculty members are leading experts in their areas. Their way of delivering the classes, the content of their presentations, their way of leading the discussions and the case studies they introduce have added a great deal of value to my experience so far.
My specialization is in International Business Law. When I saw the curriculum, I knew it would be an interesting addition to my professional experience. Although most of the subjects covered in the program are of a legal nature, it also includes a number of topics that are necessary in order to understand the business world: financial management, accounting, technology for innovation, data insights and visualization, etc. This is vital for all lawyers of the future.
Tell us something that surprised you about IE Law School and the program you’re currently studying.
Although it wasn’t unexpected—because I was aware that IE University is known for it—I was surprised by the diversity of the students. I have colleagues of many different nationalities, different ages, different personal and professional backgrounds, all of which has enriched my personal experience. The same goes for the endless offer of extracurricular activities, which has made my experience at the university and in Madrid much easier, because it has given me the opportunity to meet other students from different programs and schools.
As for the Master of Laws (LL.M.), the case method and extensive group work have helped me improve and develop something that is key to my career: the ability to work as part of a team.
Where would you like to work after completing your master’s degree? And how is IE University helping you achieve that goal?
I want to build up experience in an international law firm or as an in-house lawyer in a company, as long as my work is focused on corporate advisory services—and especially on venture capital. If I do become an in-house lawyer, I’d love for it to be in a new startup. I would very much like to see the growth of the project from the inside, as I have seen so many times through my advisory work as a lawyer in a firm.
IE University offers a variety of opportunities to achieve that goal, including the Experience Week and the Career Week, during which different companies and law firms introduce themselves and we are able to present our profiles. The university also has a portal with a range of job offers for students of the various programs.
What advice would you give to someone thinking about enrolling in the Master of Laws (LL.M.)?
My advice would be to focus as much as possible. The program is very demanding and I think you can only get the most out of it if you’re prepared and focused on it. It’s very important to prepare for classes by doing the required reading, participating in discussions and working together. That’s probably where I’ve learned the most, both by myself and with my colleagues. I’d also recommend being receptive to other people’s opinions.
Where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years?
I’d love to still be practicing law, either in a law firm or in a project-oriented venture capital firm in Latin America. I think there’s significant potential for knowledge economy in the region—and even more so in Argentina, where the growth of tech startups has been very important in recent years, despite a very challenging economic situation. That’s why my intention for the next few years is to gain professional experience at the corporate level, before focusing on new businesses in Latin America.
How would you sum up your experience at IE Law School?
My experience at IE Law School so far has been exceptional. While the master’s program is very demanding, there’s still time for personal bonding outside the classroom in one of the most culturally rich cities in the world.
When I complete the program, I’ll be leaving with some great friends who may also become business partners in the future. And I also want to mention the faculty, whose closeness to the students has greatly improved the experience, both academically and professionally.
