Curiosity often begins quietly—with a question, a spark, a sense that there’s more beneath the surface. For Emilio Ignacio Feliu, it was technology that stirred that sense early on. He wasn’t chasing titles or mapping out a future in IT. He was simply drawn to systems, to logic, to the challenge of understanding how digital frameworks held the modern world together.
That quiet fascination soon turned into something more deliberate. This exploration would shape not only his professional path but also his perspective on innovation, leadership, and the role of technology in transforming entire industries. For Emilio, technology was not just an area of interest; it all started as a hobby. In his childhood, he was into aeromodelling and rocketry courses until the appearance of the first personal computers and, of course, the games.
Then, in the early 90s, he entered university to study Systems Engineering. While studying, Emilio Ignacio began taking his first steps in IT and along with some classmates, he started working on the installation of the first microcomputer networks (LAN). From there, he started working in an industrial company as technical support for microcomputers.
Although at that time the market was dominated by large systems like IBM’s AS400, PCs were beginning to appear as work tools. After a while, he changed companies, positions, and industries, moving from working in an industrial environment with engineers to working as a Network Administrator in a law firm with lawyers.
Here, he grew professionally and reached the IT management position. During the years he worked at this firm, he learned about the legal business. Gradually, he immersed himself in what is now known as Legaltech.
After a few years independently advising law firms in Argentina and abroad, Emilio Ignacio Feliu joined Bruchou & Funes de Rioja in July 2016, where he joined an important ‘digital reengineering’ project. That move wasn’t just a job change—it was a strategic pivot that would place Emilio Ignacio at the helm of one of the most ambitious digital transformation projects in the region. It was in the development phase, and Emilio Ignacio got an opportunity to lead the technology part with a new modern approach and primarily with a strategic vision.
Embracing the Fundamentals; Empowering Enrichments
In his current role as the CIO of the company, his primary role is to define, develop, and direct the firm’s IT strategy, ensuring that it is aligned with the firm’s objectives. It extends to the evaluation and adoption of new technologies with a view to improving the organization’s efficiency. He also manages the IT budget, focusing on optimizing the cost and value of technology investments.
Together with his team leaders, Emilio Ignacio establishes and maintains the policies and procedures that regulate the use of information technologies within the firm. He manages relationships with various technology providers, fostering long-lasting, trust-based relationships and creating an ecosystem of ‘technology partners’ to ensure quality services at reasonable costs. He is also responsible for managing the various teams that make up the IT department, such as Infrastructure and Operations, Project Management, Development, Information Security, and the Help Desk.
To ensure that the Strategic IT Plan is aligned with the firm’s business objectives, Emilio Ignacio relies fundamentally on fluid and direct communication with the firm’s management bodies: the Board and the Executive Directors, and with the partners of the various practice areas that make up the firm. Through regular formal and informal meetings, he exchanges ideas and discusses needs and opportunities in an increasingly dynamic and technology-dependent market.
He expresses, “The years of experience in the legal field and the knowledge of the business become relevant, allowing me to understand their concerns and requirements, being able to speak in the same ‘legal’ terms they are accustomed to, and thus offer them technological solutions that are applicable and useful for the business.”
Creating a Culture of Innovation and Collaboration
Emilio Ignacio Feliu tends to believe that it should be easier to adopt a culture of innovation and collaboration in the IT sector than in many other industries. By nature, people working in IT, regardless of their area of expertise, are fundamentally curious and open to experimentation, innovative, and accustomed to working in teams.
Likewise, as the CIO, Emilio Ignacio always takes the responsibility of enhancing these aptitudes, encouraging individual creativity, motivating the team to propose new ideas, and seeking solutions in any technology. This is achieved by establishing and communicating a clear vision of what is wanted and required, and how innovation and collaboration contribute to achieving the objectives and, therefore, the success of the department. These achievements in innovation must be recognized, both formally, such as a performance evaluation, and publicly to incentivize through example.
He believes that it is very important to support continuous learning and training, investing in the professional development of the IT team. This increases individual skills and also allows other members to grow through the exchange of knowledge and experiences.
He comprehends the importance of being willing, demonstrating an open attitude towards change, and being receptive to new ideas that collaborators may bring. This is achieved by establishing very fluid and transparent communication with the team, where the importance of their opinions is conveyed, continuous improvement is encouraged, and creativity in problem-solving or requirements is promoted.
A Healthy Work-life Balance
Emilio Ignacio believes that the fundamental goal of achieving better collaboration in the department is to foster that ‘esprit de corps’ within the team, motivating them to feel like part of a whole, where the IT department is more than the sum of its members.
Additionally, the firm promotes a culture of respecting office hours whenever possible. However, IT work often requires broad availability, and this is where it is essential to have a family that understands and supports this circumstance.
On the other hand, he has a very intense family routine with school-aged children, whom he accompanies as much as possible in their curricular and sports activities, which forces him to disconnect from the office. Two to three times a year, he embarks on multi-day mountain trekking expeditions, fully disconnecting from the outside world and immersing himself in complete solitude.
Leading with a Comprehensive Approach
Emilio Ignacio Feliu always tries to understand and correctly define the problem and the need before proposing a response. While this may seem basic, it is very common in this field for users to propose ‘solutions’ instead of conveying a concrete ‘requirement.’
This is even more common when there is a situation of urgency or rush. It is common to hear phrases like: ‘I need you to implement this or that,’ or ‘develop this application or report urgently.’ This is when it becomes imperative to take two more minutes and thoroughly assess the need. Because solutions can often be much simpler than initially thought.
As someone whose thoughts line up like well-laid tracks, he approaches each day with structured precision—meticulously organizing and planning tasks to maximize productivity during office hours. He also ensures effective delegation, empowering his team to meet all demands efficiently.
Navigating through the Adversities
Letting the scenario bloom further, Emilio Ignacio emphasizes his approach to navigating the challenges he has faced so far. He shares, for example, radical infrastructure changes, especially when adopting a new and sometimes innovative technology with a view to long-term development. This is even more so when one is ‘comfortable’ with a platform and maintains a high level of service with it, but still decides to move towards something completely new, considering the firm’s future strategy.
The 2020 pandemic was another great challenge, as remote work was not a common practice in the legal field at that time. And although there was great confidence in the systems, a scenario where the entire firm had to operate remotely for a long time had never been considered. Thanks to the investments that had been made in systems and technologies, coupled with proper planning, the firm was able to operate perfectly well throughout the ‘isolation’ period without suffering any impact on the quality of its services.
It should be noted that in Argentina, in addition to the inherent complexity of technological challenges, there is the added complexity of the country itself. Years of uncertainty and economic fluctuations, changes in regulations and rules, limitations on the importation of equipment, obstacles in the management or renewal of licenses or subscriptions, etc. This makes everything more difficult and laborious, with a high level of risk.
Exploring the New Horizons
Emilio Ignacio stays informed by actively participating in industry talks, events, and technology presentations held throughout the year. Even when certain topics may not appear directly relevant to the business at first glance, they often provide valuable insights into emerging trends. He also attends presentations from various technology companies to explore their latest products and services.
Additionally, he keeps up with developments by reading reports and specialized papers—particularly on topics he finds highly relevant, such as artificial intelligence. To a lesser extent, he also follows key thought leaders on social media to stay connected with the broader conversation.
This approach reflects Emilio’s natural curiosity and forward-thinking mindset—always looking for connections others might overlook and leveraging that knowledge to inform strategic decisions. Staying updated isn’t just about absorbing information for him, it’s about anticipating change and positioning the business to lead, not follow.
The Reflected Glory of Excellence
Emilio Ignacio takes pride in having played a key role in positioning the firm as a market leader through the strategic use of technology. Under his leadership, the firm has earned widespread recognition for its innovation, technological sophistication, and effective application of cutting-edge solutions enhancing client service and data protection.
He expresses, “I also feel personal pride when I see the growth of the people who work or have worked with me, both at Bruchou & Funes de Rioja and in other organizations where I have worked. I firmly believe that the growth of the staff in charge is a fundamental contribution to the organization and an obligation of a team leader, and fostering this development and seeing it reflected in the reality of the people is always a satisfaction.”
Words of Wisdom
As a piece of advice for the aspiring CIOs who aim to lead and drive technological transformation within their organizations, Emilio Ignacio notes, “It is essential to possess a deep understanding of the business context in which one operates in order to identify where and how technology can deliver meaningful value effectively. Equally important is maintaining awareness of emerging trends and innovations, coupled with a mindset open to creative thinking. This approach enables the strategic application of new technologies to drive impactful digital transformation across the organization.”
Envisioning the Future
While Emilio Ignacio Feliu closely observes what lies ahead, he underlines that “We are facing a challenge and at the same time a great opportunity to give technology a strategic role in legal firms. The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) in the legal field is already a fact, and those firms that do not adapt to the change this entails will be left out of the market, unable to compete with firms of the same technical-legal level that have optimized and streamlined their processes with AI.”
It lays the foundation for Bruchou & Funes de Rioja to adopt AI solutions to enhance the firm’s performance. The company has an agreement with a prestigious AI laboratory from a renowned educational institution in the country, focusing on training and surveying AI applications.
Additionally, the implementation of a specialized AI assistant for lawyers and the development of AI-based solutions for process automation serve as catalysts for enhancing operational efficiency, reducing manual workload, and delivering faster, more accurate legal services. “The fact that we started this path before most of our competitor firms gives us a competitive advantage in the market, as by now we have surpassed the learning curve, and we understand where AI adds value and where its application is not convenient or useful,” he reveals.
By staying one step ahead of the AI curve, Emilio Ignacio is not only redefining what’s possible—he’s proving that when curiosity meets strategy, innovation is inevitable.
