London/Madrid, May 2026 – Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer has announced that Carolina Banegas has taken on the expanded role of Head of People Business Partnering, UK & EMEA, while continuing to support the firm’s operations in Spain and Italy.
The appointment reflects Banegas’ growing leadership responsibilities across the firm’s people agenda in Europe, where she will partner with senior leadership to drive talent strategy, organizational effectiveness, workforce planning, leadership development, and people initiatives across the UK and EMEA region.
Banegas has been part of Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer for nearly a decade, building an extensive career in human resources leadership within the global legal services sector.
Most recently, she served as Senior HR Manager, Spain & Italy, leading the people agenda across both jurisdictions and supporting more than 180 employees within a complex, matrix-based international environment. In this role, she acted as a trusted advisor to partners and senior leaders, aligning people strategies with business growth, profitability, and long-term partnership objectives.
She also played an active role in regional and global HR transformation initiatives, collaborating closely with the firm’s London headquarters and HR leaders across EMEA to drive consistency, governance, cultural alignment, and organizational effectiveness.
Prior to this, Banegas served as HR Manager Spain & Italy, where she was responsible for delivering human resources strategies, talent management programs, employee relations support, workforce planning, and leadership advisory services across the firm’s Southern European operations.
Alongside her corporate responsibilities, Banegas has built a strong profile in leadership development and career coaching. Since 2020, she has served as Associate Professor of Career Management at both IE University and Universidad Pontificia Comillas ICAI-ICADE, helping develop future business and legal professionals.
She is also an accredited Executive Coach through the International Coaching Federation (ICF), supporting leaders in career development, executive effectiveness, and professional growth.
Before joining Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, Banegas spent more than six years with Signium Spain as Associate Principal and Executive Search Consultant, specializing in executive search assignments across professional services, law firms, financial services, and real estate sectors. During this period, she developed expertise in succession planning, leadership assessment, executive talent acquisition, market intelligence, and compensation benchmarking.
Earlier in her career, she practiced corporate law and finance with both Ernst & Young and Squire Patton Boggs, providing her with a strong understanding of professional services organizations and partnership-based business models.
Banegas holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from IE Business School and completed her Executive Coach ACTP Accreditation through the Escuela Europea de Coaching, earning certification from the International Coaching Federation (ICF).
Her combined background in law, business, executive search, coaching, and HR leadership has enabled her to build a distinctive career focused on leadership, talent strategy, and organizational transformation.
About Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer is one of the world’s leading global law firms, serving clients across major financial centers, growth markets, and key international jurisdictions.
With a history spanning more than 170 years, the firm is recognized for its expertise in complex disputes, regulatory matters, public and private market transactions, energy, infrastructure, resources, and other sectors shaping the global economy.
Operating as a fully integrated transatlantic and transpacific law firm, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer combines global reach with deep sector expertise, helping clients navigate increasingly complex business, regulatory, and legal environments worldwide.
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