Brazil 2024 – GC Powerlist
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Brazil 2024

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Adriana Cardinali Straube

Legal director, head of legal commerce Brasil (marketplace and shipping) | Mercado Livre

Information technology

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Adriana Lontra

Legal manager | Seadrill

Energy and utilities

Adriano Pires Ribeiro

Legal executive director | JBS

Food, beverages and tobacco

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Alderiza L. S. Agustini

Executive legal director and chief compliance officer - Latin America | Bridgestone Brazil

Consumer products

Alessandra de Sa Del Debbio

Assistant general counsel, Latin America | Microsoft

Information technology

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Alessandro Tomao

General counsel and executive vice president | Banco Santander Brasil

Financials

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Alexandra Garchet

General counsel | Origem Energia

Energy and utilities

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Alexandre D’Ambrosio

Executive vice president, corporate and external affairs | Vale

Materials and mining

Alfredo Santana

Legal and corporate compliance director for Latin America | Volvo Brazil

Consumer products

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Amira Chammas

Legal, compliance and corporate governance director | Grupo Gramado Parks

Hotels

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Ana Carolina Medina

Legal director | CTG Brasil

Energy and utilities

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Ana Celia Celidonio

Legal manager | Great Wall Motor Brasil

Consumer products

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Ana Claudia Rebello

Legal director, Brazil | Enel Group

Energy and utilities

Ana Hieaux

Vice president, general counsel, Brazil | Carrefour Group

Consumer products

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Ana Luiza V. Franco Forattini

Chief legal, compliance, ombusdman and ESG officer | Inter

Financials

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André Avellar

Chief of legal operations | Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras – Eletrobras

Energy and utilities

Andre Maia

Legal director, South America | Sibelco Group

Materials and mining

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André Rizk

Vice president, legal and compliance | Lavoro Agro

Consumer products

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Andrea Garcia

Vice president, head of legal, Latin America | Bayer

Healthcare

Andreia Saad

Legal director and data protection officer | Grupo Globo

Sports and media

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Antonio Basilio

Legal director | Enel

Energy and utilities

Beatriz Veiga Carvalho

Associate general counsel | Baxter International

Healthcare

Bianca Poffo

Chief legal and compliance officer, LATAM | Logicalis

Information technology

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Breno Rodrigo Pacheco de Oliveira

Legal director and company secretary | Vivo (Telefônica Brasil)

Telecommunication services

Breno Vaz

General counsel | Conexa Saúde

Information technology

Bruno Duque

General counsel | BTG Pactual

Financials

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Bruno Machado Ferla

Vice president, M&A, legal, compliance and governance | BRF

Food, beverages and tobacco

Carlos Pompermaier

Vice president corporate affairs and regulation | AES Brasil

Energy and utilities

Carolina De Nardi

Senior director and chief counsel, Brazil and Latin America | Zoetis

Healthcare

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Cristiana Lapa

Vice president, general counsel | Braskem

Industrials and real estate

Cristiano Cozer

General counsel | Banco Central do Brasil

Financials

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Cristina da Costa Melo

Head of legal, Brazil | Siemens Healthcare

Healthcare

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Cristine Kobayashi Teixeira

Head of legal and tax department | Camil Alimentos

Food, beverages and tobacco

Cyntia Peluso

Legal manager | Atlas Copco

Industrials and real estate

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Daniel Arbix

Legal director | Google

Information technology

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Daniel Fazzolari

General counsel | Bank of America

Financials

Daniela Albuquerque

Head of legal for Latin America | Galderma

Healthcare

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Daniela Borges

Legal director for South America | Schneider Electric

Energy and utilities

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Dante Perin Jorge de Araujo

Legal director, Latin America | IBM

Information technology

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Eduardo Gil

Chief counsel for Brazil | Mondelēz International

Food, beverages and tobacco

Eduardo Nogueira

Vice president legal, Latin America | DHL

Transport and infrastructure

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Eduardo Ribeiro

General counsel | Siemens Gamesa

Energy and utilities

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Elita Ariaz

Chief legal counsel | Nubank

Information technology

Emir Calluf Filho

Legal and compliance executive | BHP

Materials and mining

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Fabiana de Freitas

Vice president of legal, compliance and AI | Grupo Boticário

Consumer products

Fabiana Leschziner

Executive vice president, general counsel and chief compliance officer | Embraer

Transport and infrastructure

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Fabiana Molina

Legal director | Ultragaz

Energy and utilities

Fabiana Velasco

Head of legal operations | TIM Brasil

Telecommunication services

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Fabiano Puppi

Legal and compliance director | Aegea

Commercial and professional services

Fabrício Cunha de Almeida

General counsel | XP Inc.

Financials

Felipe Chiattone Alves

Legal director for Brazil, Venezuela, Central America and the Caribbean | Johnson & Johnson

Healthcare

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Fernanda Iacia

Director, associate general counsel | Bank of America, Brazil

Financials

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Fernando Rascov Lodi

Legal director for Latin America | Sherwin-Williams

Materials and mining

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Fernando Borges Porelo

General counsel | AIG Seguros Brasil

Financials

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Flavia Marcucci Kazakevicius

Legal director for Brazil | EssilorLuxottica

Healthcare

Flávia Regina Ribeiro da Silva Villa

Executive legal director and organizational culture PMO | Minerva Foods

Food, beverages and tobacco

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Flavio Mattos

Vice president and general counsel | The Coca-Cola Company

Food, beverages and tobacco

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Flora Azevedo

Head of regional legal, Brazil and Latin America | ByteDance

Information technology

Gianfranco Fogaccia Cinelli

General counsel | Hidrovias do Brasil

Transport and infrastructure

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Graziela Adas

Executive legal director | Edenred

Financials

Gustavo Bastos

Vice president, legal and public affairs | Nestlé

Food, beverages and tobacco

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Heloisa Calderano Pereira

General counsel, South America | Imerys

Materials and mining

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Hugo Cruz Maestri

Head of legal for East Coast of South America | Maersk Group

Transport and infrastructure

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Ianda Lopes

General counsel for Latin America | Uber

Energy and utilities

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Isabella Maciel de Sá

Legal regional director, LATAM | Abbott

Healthcare

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Isabella Vilhena

Legal manager | LATAM Airlines Brasil

Transport and infrastructure

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Itamar Gaino Filho

Group chief legal and compliance officer and general counsel | Natura & Co

Consumer products

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Jonas Pulcheri

General counsel | Rede D'Or São Luiz

Healthcare

Jose Eduardo Guimaraes Barros

Head of legal deparment | Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras – Eletrobras

Energy and utilities

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José Silva Sobral Neto

Legal director, compliance officer and data protection officer | Equatorial Energia

Energy and utilities

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Jose Virgilio Vita Neto

General counsel and corporate affairs | Itaú Unibanco

Financials

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Josie Jardim

Legal director, Brazil | Amazon

Consumer products

Joyce Andrews

Director of legal, governance, risk and compliance | VLI Logística

Transport and infrastructure

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Juliana Marques Kakimoto

Legal and compliance director | Organon Brasil

Healthcare

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Juliana Ugarelli

Director of global legal projects | Getinge

Healthcare

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Juliana Werkhauser

General counsel for Latin America | Amcor

Materials and mining

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Julissa Savitci de Almeida Bergqvist

Vice president, legal, general counsel | PepsiCo Brasil

Food, beverages and tobacco

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Karina Close D’Angelo de Carvalho

Executive general counsel, Latin America | General Electric Aerospace

Consumer products

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Kathyanni Martins de Oliveira Santos

Legal manager | Cia Latino Americana de Medicamentos

Healthcare

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Lara Piau

General counsel | Neoenergia

Energy and utilities

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Lara Siqueira de Andrade

Vice president of legal and business affairs | Warner Bros Discovery

Sports and media

Leticia Rudge Barbosa Kina

Chief legal, ethics and compliance officer | Ambev

Food, beverages and tobacco

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Lígia Maria Hurga Mussi

General counsel, Latin America | Red Bull

Food, beverages and tobacco

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Lilian Tilelli Ferrete

Legal and ERC director | Sandoz

Healthcare

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Financials

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Luana Leticia Brazileiro Araya

Legal director | Tate & Lyle

Food, beverages and tobacco

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Luciana Nunes Freire

Executive legal director | Fiesp - Federação das Indústrias do Estado de São Paulo

Industrials and real estate

Luciano Dequech

General counsel | Copa Energia Distribuidora de Gás

Energy and utilities

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Luciano Santos

Legal director | Lundin Mining Corporation

Materials and mining

Lucila Prazeres da Silva

General counsel | Constellation Investimentos e Participações

Financials

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Lucinéia Possar

Legal Manager | Banco do Brasil

Financials

Luis Mosquera

Vice-President, Legal, Government Affairs & Sustainability | Siemens

Industrials and real estate

Marcelo Azevedo Fajnzylber

Chief legal, risk and compliance officer | Prisma Capital

Financials

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Marcelo Oliveira Mello

General counsel | Petrobras

Energy and utilities

Marcelo Quio Ribeiro do Nascimento

Legal affairs director for South America | Volkswagen Brazil

Consumer products

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Marcia Muniz

Legal director, LATAM and Canada | Cisco

Information technology

Marco Antonio de Souza Fortes Filho

Legal manager | Grupo Smart Fit

Healthcare

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Maria Beatriz Conde Pellegrino

Vice president, legal, Brazil and Andean region | Visa

Financials

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Maria Cecília da Silva Plácido

Head of legal, Brazil | DHL

Transport and infrastructure

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Maria da Graça Montalvão

Vice president, legal, Brazil | Kinross Brasil Mineração

Materials and mining

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Mariangela Sampaio

Business unit general counsel, Home Care Americas | Unilever

Consumer products

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Marina Barjud

Legal general, labour matters | Whirlpool Corporation

Consumer products

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Marina Funck

Senior legal manager | American Tower Company

Telecommunication services

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Marina Roversi Zago

Legal director | JTI Brasil

Food, beverages and tobacco

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Marlio Martins

Director and associate general counsel for APAC and LATAM | Meta

Information technology

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Mauricio Camargo

General counsel, legal and M&A, South America | John Deere

Consumer products

Mauricio Joffily PC Pinheiro

Legal director | Teva Pharmaceuticals

Healthcare

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Murilo de Martino Mossin

Legal and compliance director | ZAMP

Food, beverages and tobacco

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Pablo Gubert

General Counsel and head of compliance and audit for Latin America   | Panasonic Latin America

Consumer products

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Patricia Frossard Piteri

Head of legal and compliance, Latin America and country manager, Brazil | Phillips

Consumer products

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Patricia Medeiros Arias

General counsel | Grupo Petrópolis

Food, beverages and tobacco

Patricia Ulian

Latin America legal director | Archer Daniels Midland - ADM

Food, beverages and tobacco

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Paula Nogueira

Head of legal | GEQ - Grupo Edson Queiroz

Food, beverages and tobacco

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Paula Scandiuzzi Bichuete

Deputy general counsel for South America | Valeo

Industrials and real estate

Paulo Garcia

Head of legal and compliance | Brookfield

Commercial and professional services

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Pedro Borba

Legal and executive director | Docas Investimento

Commercial and professional services

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Pedro Flach

Head of legal | ThoughtWorks

Information technology

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Pedro Pace

Legal director, Latin America and Canada | Apple

Information technology

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Pilar Perez

Legal and compliance manager | Lorinvest Gestão de Recursos

Financials

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Rafael Vietti

Head of legal | Itaú Unibanco

Financials

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Renata B. Regino

General counsel, Latin America | Dentsu

Sports and media

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Renata Penna Moreira Gunzburger

Vice president, legal and governance, and general counsel | Nexa Resources

Materials and mining

Renato Maia Lopes

Legal, governance and compliance director | Companhia Brasileira de Aluminio

Materials and mining

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Ricardo Lagreca Siqueira

Legal, government relations and compliance senior director | Mercado Livre

Information technology

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Rodrigo Mamede Gomes

General counsel | Banco Bradesco

Financials

Rodrigo Recart

General counsel | Lactalis Group

Food, beverages and tobacco

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Sarah Chaia

Director of legal | Roche

Healthcare

Sergio Fernandes

General Counsel for Latin America | Experian

Information technology

Shirley Meschke

Legal director | Laboratórios Pfizer

Healthcare

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Suzana Fagundes Ribeiro de Oliveira

Chief legal and institutional relations officer | Localiza Rent a Car

Transport and infrastructure

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Taciana Fazzolari

Senior director, government and legal affairs, Latin America | Hasbro

Consumer products

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Tatiana Belchior

Head of legal, Latin America | Videojet Technologies

Information technology

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Tatiana Simões Rabello Franzoe

General counsel and compliance officer | Generali Brasil Seguros

Financials

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Thales Baleeiro Teixeira

General counsel | Gerdau

Energy and utilities

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Thiago Freitas

General counsel, governance, risk and compliance officer | Eneva

Energy and utilities

Thiago Luiz Ferreira

Senior legal manager | Mondelēz International

Food, beverages and tobacco

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Valéria Camacho Martins Schmitke Ducatti

Regional general counsel for Latin America | Zurich Latin America Serviços Brasil 

Financials

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Vanessa de Carvalho Climaco

Legal manager | Ipiranga Produtos de Petróleo

Energy and utilities

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Vanessa de Paula Isidoro

Legal, compliance, public policy and purchases director  | Loggi Tecnologia

Transport and infrastructure

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Walner Júnior

Global general counsel | Suzano

Materials and mining

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After the resounding success of the series return to Brazil last year, The Legal 500 is thrilled to introduce the GC Powerlist: Brazil 2024, our flagship publication dedicated to recognising and celebrating the exceptional accomplishments of the country’s top in-house lawyers. 

The GC Powerlist showcases the remarkable contributions of corporate lawyers to businesses in Brazil. It stands as a testament to their expertise, leadership, and unwavering dedication to excellence. This year’s edition highlights outstanding achievements and innovative approaches as these professionals navigate the complexities of the Brazilian legal landscape, addressing issues such as technological advancements, business partnerships, the indispensable role of the GC in C-level management, diversity and inclusion initiatives, and more. 

Within these pages, you will discover comprehensive profiles and exclusive interviews with the most influential and esteemed in-house lawyers from a variety of industries within Brazil. These leaders consistently showcase their talent for shaping legal procedures, managing risks, and offering strategic guidance to their organisations. Their achievements inspire the legal community, highlighting the significant impact that in-house lawyers have on their businesses’ strategies and success.

This research brings to light several key findings on the role of the in-house lawyer. Among them, is the growing indispensable role of the GC to their company’s C-level management and executives. As echoed by Valeria Camacho Martins Schmitke Ducatti, regional general counsel for Latin America at Zurich, “legal department has a mission of protection of the company and its executives, but is also [in] supporting and enabling […] legal department has to build bridges and relationships. We need to be constantly adding value to the business, presenting them creative solutions for implementing their projects in compliance with the law. […] That is what makes me choose to be an [in-house] lawyer.” Reinforcing this idea, Jose Virgilio Vita Neto, chief legal officer at Itaú Unibanco states that “at Itaú Unibanco lawyers and business executives work very close. The lawyers participate in all the relevant meetings and discussion regarding new transactions and the implementation of new products and features. We do not have (and feel that this would be counterproductive) a separate legal governance.” 

Another particularly important takeaway from the development of this publication is the strong commitment many in-house lawyers have to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, considering them one of their primary business passions. As an example of the voice of many, Isabella Maciel de Sá, regional director at Abbott Laboratories shared that diversity and inclusion “has been one of my passions for a long time. I believe in creativity, in the best solutions for problems, and the innovative capabilities that only a diverse team can create. Becoming a leader capable of creating an inclusive environment that promotes a feeling of belonging, of purpose, and of well-being for all members of a team that is diverse in terms of gender, race, culture, sexual orientation, religion, age, technical and human competences is no easy task but it´s my personal objective as a team leader.” Another great testimony on this is provided by Ana Luiza V. Franco Forattini, chief legal at Inter, who declares a passion for contributing to “gender diversity; helping women be included and thrive in their challenges as their evolve in their careers [as well as] being involved in small programs that help underprivileged in Brazil.” 

This publication delves into numerous other pertinent topics and challenges, offering exclusive discussions that we encourage you to explore. Here, you will uncover the extraordinary stories of these remarkable individuals as, through their experiences and insights, we provide a comprehensive overview of Brazil’s corporate legal landscape and the invaluable role played by in-house legal individuals. 

We extend our heartfelt gratitude and congratulations to everyone featured in this publication for their invaluable contributions and for sharing their journeys with us. It is our pleasure to present this distinguished list of Brazil’s most exceptional, diligent, and celebrated in-house lawyers.

 

 

Francisco Faria e Castro | Senior research analyst | GC Powerlist Series

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In today’s legal landscape, we cannot ignore the constant and significant changes we experience on a daily basis. These changes are particularly driven by technology and innovation, as well as the regulatory environment.

In such a challenging context, legal counsels are the ones who manage risks, understand the companies’ strategies and policies, and make the best decisions for them. It is a demanding and complex job.

As business partners, we must be prepared to quickly adapt to these transformations and continuously improve our processes and practices, always grounded in legal intelligence. This is essential to offering the best support to our clients, and managing resources efficiently and according to their needs.

We thank you for trusting us and for your partnership in another GC Powerlist Brazil. We also congratulate the GCs recognized this year and look forward to shaping the industry’s next steps together.

GC Powerlist Middle East 2024

On the evening of Wednesday, 30th October, The Legal 500 proudly hosted the launch event for the GC Powerlist Middle East 2024.

 

The event brought together a distinguished group of in-house counsel from across the Middle East, thanks to the support of our sponsors: Taylor Root, ALC, Al Muhamoon Al Mutahidoon, Lawyers On Demand, Meysan, Nami Associates, Omar Al Rasheed Law Firm, and Sharq Law Firm.

 

Sara Maggi, deputy editor for The Legal 500 GC Powerlist Series, opened the evening with a warm welcome. Following her, representatives from our sponsors shared their congratulations. Bapsy Dastur, general counsel and head of corporate risk, compliance and legal at VFS Global, offered valuable insights into the challenges currently facing general counsel in the region. Abdullah Najjar from Meysan also took the stage, celebrating the Powerlisters for their adeptness in navigating today’s complexities, highlighting the shift in their roles from traditional legal duties to broader business leadership.

 

The celebration continued as Abdulwhahab Sadeq, Partner at Meysan, invited attendees to receive their certificates on stage.

 

We extend our sincere gratitude to our sponsors for their support and partnership. Most importantly, congratulations to all featured in the 2024 edition; your recognition is a testament to your hard work and dedication. We look forward to 2025, aiming to showcase an even wider representation of the region’s top in-house lawyers.