CRISTINA HWANG
Senior Vice President; Associate General Counsel
Hanmi Bank
Cristina Hwang is senior vice president and associate general counsel at Hanmi Financial Corporation, a publicly traded company, and its wholly owned subsidiary, Hanmi Bank. In this role, she provides legal counsel and support to all of the bank’s business units, opining on operational and transactional matters, mergers and acquisitions, as well as new products and services. She also conducts research, drafts policies and negotiates contracts. Since joining Hanmi in 2020, Hwang has made valuable contributions to its legal department and the bank, becoming a trusted strategic partner to all business units. For example, she spearheaded a significant revision of the contracts management system, streamlining communication and execution across all transaction stakeholders.
Through her proactive outreach to other functions across the bank, Hwang has helped to enhance internal engagement with the legal department, instituting an open-door policy that encourages colleagues to seek advice and address concerns early. These efforts have led to improved legal risk management and an even more collaborative work environment. Her leadership continues to foster a culture of cooperation and proactive problem-solving.
Prior to joining Hanmi Bank, Hwang served as legal counsel to and managed the Commercial and Contracts Department at Novonor S.A. (formerly Odebrecht S.A.), a multinational engineering and construction company headquartered in Brazil. During her tenure at Novonor, she was involved in significant public and private energy and infrastructure projects across Argentina, the United States, and Africa. In this role, she spent significant time navigating complex legal landscapes in diverse regions, increasing her expertise in managing international legal matters.
