Rafaella DI Palermo Perez : Fintech Legal Executive Driving Regulatory Innovation

Law no longer lives in footnotes and fine prints, it thrives in execution. As regulatory frameworks grow more complex, the legal industry has evolved into a strategic function responsible for embedding compliance into daily business activity. Legal professionals are tasked with managing compliance in real time, aligning legal requirements with commercial realities, and enabling informed decision-making.

Rafaella Di Palermo Perez is one such focused business legal leader with more than a decade of experience in advising companies through moments of transformation. Rafaella leads with purpose and vision as the Head of Legal LAC & Canada, with a focus on regulatory engagement, compliance, and sustainable market growth.

Poised for successful execution, she views her role as creating structures around ideas that scale and have real impact. Resilient and focused in her approach, Rafaella is passionate about mentoring and knowledge-sharing, where she actively supports the next generation of legal and business leaders. 

Take us through the formative years of your life. What were some key influences that inspired you to pursue a career in law?

My story is rooted in forces that predate my own experience. Well before my working life started, the foundation stones of my worldview were laid by the family background that had known displaced life, wars, and a lack of resources. 

I vividly remember my grandmother and the stories that she had shared with us of survival not as history lessons, but as lives lived. Though I did not fully comprehend their gravity as a child, these stories had formed the background of our life in a subtle manner and had inculcated the values of perseverance and prudence in us. Over time, this inner world translated into a practical ambition: to build security and resilience in environments that can feel uncertain. Eventually, law offered a system grounded in order, accountability, and  fairness, making it both a tribute to my background and a deliberate path toward building a different future.

Tell us about your professional journey. What core areas of specialization have you developed over the years?

As someone who intentionally transitioned from one sector to another, I have been involved in ecosystems that require a balancing act in regulatory compliance, innovation and velocity. Engagement with legal practices, corporations, fintechs, and startups has sharpened my skills in distilling regulatory issues into actionable, business-friendly solutions. This has honed my overall skills in managing complex regulatory environments as well as fostering innovation at scale. 

My professional journey has shown me that true expertise is not defined by exhaustive knowledge, but by the ability to learn quickly and adapt with intention. Derived from this principle, flexibility has been a tenet in my profession, largely influencing my skills in regulatory compliance, business contracting, and legal support in product and market entry. Over time, this expanded into supporting go-to-market strategies and guiding businesses through geographic and operational expansion.

Introduce us to Remitly. What are your primary responsibilities as the Head of Legal, LAC & Canada of the company?

Remitly is a trusted provider of digital financial services with a global footprint spanning more than 170 countries. Its digitally native cross-border payments app enables fast, reliable, and transparent money movement for customers globally. As the Head of Legal for Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada, I am responsible for the legal and regulatory strategy of Remitly in the region. My position plays an important role in the realm of growth, regulation, clarity, and execution. 

My role involves ensuring the expansion of Remitly into new geographies and the sustainability of its cross-border payment services. It involves working with complex bodies of regulations and turning them into solutions that work towards business expansion. Much of my work involves demystifying complex regulatory environments and converting them into practical solutions.

"My professional journey has shown me that true expertise is not defined by exhaustive knowledge but by the ability to learn quickly and adapt with intention."

What challenges do you encounter in your current role? How do you address them effectively?

Given the fast-paced fintech industry, one of the most persistent challenges in this environment is managing the tension between speed and sustainability as the timelines are increasingly tighter. It guides all other decisions because of the need to enable businesses to go fast in a sustainable manner without having to compromise on trust. To manage situations where some decisions require urgency while others need more time to avoid triggering potential risks, I continually evaluate the long-term sustainability of each decision. This framework helps the business move decisively while preserving regulatory integrity and strategic flexibility. 

A recurring challenge is ensuring that risk management enhances, rather than hinders, business execution. In fast-moving environments, the legal function is most effective when positioned as a collaborative partner. I address this by developing trust across teams and increasing transparency in risks, trade-offs, and options, enabling informed decision making. In this role, the legal function is a stabilizing factor that facilitates growth while safeguarding the company in its growth process.

Going forward, how do you see the business law landscape evolving in Latin America? How can legal professionals align with the industry evolutions?

The pace of digital platforms and emerging technological evolution in Latin America is forcing a different pace of regulatory evolution, unprecedented in many traditional industries. In Latin America, this gap makes the cultural and economic context  important and crucial. Legal professionals must go beyond the written rules to grasp the social, economic, and consumer realities that influence regulatory behaviour. Attorneys who can identify or even recognize the forces of societal change at play in this technological evolution can better prepare themselves for what will transpire along with the process of regulatory evolution.

Looking back at your journey, what key milestones are you most proud of? What is your guiding ‘success mantra’?

Reflecting on my career, I place greater value on long-term im - pact and legacy than on formal titles. I was able to contribute to the development of financial reg - ulation in Brazil through initia - tives like Open Banking and Pix. I also contributed to the develop - ment of product innovation ini - tiatives for loans, buy-now-paylater services, and remittances.  

In my opinion, success is the value created over time. It is measured not merely on achiev - ing milestones but also on the understanding and knowledge that is developed during the jour - ney to success. 

I would define my leadership style through the belief that “we all look at the world as we are.” When outcomes fall short ex - ternally, effective leadership begins with inward reflection. Self-awareness and account - ability are critical for sustained growth, and mentorship and trusted feedback help uncover blind spots that are not visible alone. 

Rafaella DI Palermo Perez, Head of Legal LAC & Canada, Remitly

Rafaella Di Palermo Perez brings over a decade of experience in fintech, compliance, and expansion across emerging markets. She drives regulatory strategy and currently serves as Head of Legal for LAC & Canada at Remitly, providing clear vision and strategic leadership. With a proven track record supporting product launches, go-tomarket strategies, funding rounds, and M&A, she is known to partner closely with business and product teams to turn regulatory complexity into scalable growth.