Executive Vice-President for Legal, and General Counsel | MicroportÂ
Senior Legal Manager - Real Estate & Infrastructure, EMEA | EQUINIX
General Counsel / Directeur Juridique Groupe | TSG Solutions
SVP General Counsel/ I&C Officer France & Northen Europe | The Adecco Group
Legal Director and Compliance Officer for Western Europe  | Colgate-Palmolive
Executive vice president, legal affairs and internal audit | Bureau Veritas Group
Directeur général juridique, conformité | Nestlé France
Group general counsel | LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton
Senior Vice President / Head of Corporate Affairs - Legal & Compliance | Airbus Group SAS
Directeur Juridique, Conformité et Risques – Secrétaire du Conseil d’Administration / Group General Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer – Company Secretary | Colas
Group VP Legal - Litigation& Disputes Resolution | Thales
Group Director Of Legal Affairs, and President of AFJE | LACTALIS
General Counsel and Member of the Executive Board in charge of legal, compliance, information security and regulatory affairs | Natixis
General Counsel and Head of Public Affairs, Corporate Secretary and UK Chairman; Member of the Airbus Executive Committee | Airbus SE
Global Head of Competition Law & General Counsel France | ArcelorMittal 
General counsel - risk, compliance and operations | Schindler
Group General Counsel & Corporate Secretary | Séché Environnement
General counsel, EMEA, lead attorney for IP/IT contracts and global vendors | IPSOS
Vice president, group general counsel and company secretary | Dassault Systemes
Group general counsel and secretary of the board of directors – member of the executive committee | Vallourec
Vice-président exécutif pour les affaires juridiques et Directeur juridique | Tetra Pak
Vice President and General Counsel France | Schneider Electric
Senior Director for Legal Affairs, Europe | Ivanhoe Cambridge
Directeur des affaires juridiques holding Total SA | Total Exploration & Production
GC/Executive Director Legal, Compliance, Audit Risks, Professional Interaction excellence | Roche
Chief legal officer of renewables global business unit of ENGIE VP Excom member of global energy management and supply (in charge of legal, ethics and compliance) | ENGIE
Deputy General Counsel in charge of compliance and organisation | SNCF Réseau
On behalf of The Legal 500, I am delighted and honoured to present the GC Powerlist: France 2024.
This edition celebrates the exceptional general counsel and in–house lawyers who continue to make significant contributions in one of the region’s most complex and influential legal markets. Our research has given us the privilege of engaging with some of France’s finest legal professionals, uncovering their innovative strategies, strong leadership, and commitment to excellence.
In a rapidly changing market with complex regulations, France’s general counsel are redefining their roles. They are no longer confined to traditional legal tasks but play a vital part in shaping their companies’ strategies, building resilience, and managing challenges such as economic uncertainty, technological advances, and evolving regulations. The professionals featured in this year’s Powerlist are distinguished not just by their legal expertise but by their ability to guide their organisations through an era of significant change.
The GC Powerlist: France 2024 is dedicated to those driving business success, embracing innovation, and upholding the highest standards of integrity. From leading digital transformation and strengthening governance to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion, these general counsel are setting new benchmarks for legal leadership. Alice Flacco, Executive vice-president legal, and general xounsel at Microport puts it: ‘Operating amid instability is not always easy, but these are moments in which opportunities emerge. Seeing our collective efforts pay off reinforces my belief that adaptability and open communication turn crises into pathways for progress. My approach focuses on building supportive relationships across the organisation. By fostering a culture of accessibility and trust, we encourage the legal team to be involved from the outset of any initiative. This early engagement helps us to be present, ask thoughtful questions, anticipate potential risks, and collaboratively develop solutions that make business smoother and safer.’
The GC Powerlist: France 2024 celebrates the remarkable achievements of these legal trailblazers. We are proud to share their stories and insights, showcasing their role in shaping the future of legal practice in France.
Allan Cohen – Senior Research Editor
On January 28th, after a long time in the making, the Legal 500 proudly brought its renowned GC Summit series to the Middle East. Held at the prestigious Waldorf Astoria in Dubai’s International Finance Centre, this milestone event gathered over 120 attendees, including some of the region’s foremost legal minds, leading law firms, and 27 distinguished guest speakers. Together, they tackled key challenges and emerging trends shaping the legal landscape in the Middle East, delivering insights of the highest calibre.
A Collaborative Effort
The event was made possible in association with our esteemed partners: CMS, Stephenson Harwood, Al Majd Law Firm, Nami Associates, and Qanooni, along with our valued networking sponsors, Greenberg Traurig, Afridi & Angell, DiliTrust, and Tribonian Law Advisors. With their support, the Legal 500 curated a dynamic agenda featuring five insightful panel discussions, each designed to address pressing issues facing in-house counsel today.
Setting the Stage
The conference commenced with a warm welcome from Francisco Castro, representing the Legal 500’s editorial team. In his opening remarks, Francisco highlighted the significance of launching the GC Summit series in Dubai, underscoring its role in uniting and fostering collaboration within the Middle East’s growing in-house legal community. He emphasised the importance of delivering tailored, high-quality content to enrich legal practices and support in-house counsel in navigating the complexities of their roles.
Panel Highlights
Legal Tech & AI in M&A Transactions
The first session, in association with CMS, explored the growing influence of legal technology – particularly AI – on M&A practices in the region. Moderated by Patrik Daintry, partner at CMS, the panel featured Karl Rogers (Standard Chartered Bank), Salma Miah (SS&C Intralinks), Donya Fredj (G42), and Joel Vertes (CMS). Together, they examined how AI-driven solutions enhance accuracy, mitigate risks, and streamline transactions, setting a forward-thinking tone for the rest of the summit.
Navigating M&A in Uncertain Times
The second session, presented in partnership with Stephenson Harwood, delved into the challenges of executing M&A deals amid economic and political uncertainty. Melissa Forbes-Miranda, partner at Stephenson Harwood, expertly moderated a discussion featuring Ed Reilly (Standard Chartered Bank), Sanjay Bhatia (Pinnacle IBP Management Consultancy), Ahmed Zaki (Al Hamra Group), Dolly Ramaiya (Truleum Venture Partners), Lydie Traore (Petromin Corporation), and Ali Tariq (CapitalH). Panellists provided strategic insights on risk mitigation and opportunity maximisation in an unpredictable global landscape – an especially timely discussion as 2025 approaches with its own set of uncertainties.
Networking & Engagement
Following these initial compelling sessions, attendees enjoyed a networking lunch, sponsored by Tribonian Law Advisors. This break provided an opportunity for participants to engage in deeper discussions on the morning’s topics, connect with peers, and explore the law firm exhibits in the networking area.
Investing in Qatar: Legal & Business Landscape
Post-lunch, the third session, in collaboration with Al Majd Law Firm, provided a comprehensive look at investment opportunities in Qatar. Moderated by Mira Adra (Al Majd Law Firm), the discussion featured Bashar Hanna El Nashef (Al Majd Law Firm), Taki Eddine Sahbi (Ariane Holding), Dr. Zain Al-Abedin Sharar (Qatar International Court and Dispute Resolution Center), and Hamad Al Nasr (Ministry of Commerce and Industry). Panellists outlined key investment prospects, regulatory requirements, and legal frameworks designed to protect investors while fostering economic growth in a country that offers so much to potential investors.
Legal Trends in Iran’s Healthcare & FMCG Sectors
The fourth session, held in partnership with Nami Associates, focused on legal developments affecting Iran’s healthcare and FMCG industries. Brilliantly moderated by Shahram Safai (Afridi & Angell), the discussion featured Behnam Khatami, Sanaz Hosseini-Kolahi, and Mansour Vesali (Nami Associates), alongside Mohammad Mostofinejad (Nestlé). Esteemed speakers shared practical insights on navigating regulatory complexities, emerging opportunities, and key challenges for international businesses in these sectors.
Generative AI: Enhancing Productivity in Legal Teams
Following a short networking coffee break, the final panel, in association with Qanooni, explored the transformative role of generative AI in corporate legal departments. Moderated by Ziyaad Ahmed (Qanooni AI), speakers Diwakar Agarwal (Stephenson Harwood), Yosr Hamza (Gartner), and Sophie Best (Knowledge Nexus) engaged the audience in a highly interactive discussion. The session provided actionable insights on leveraging AI to optimise legal workflows, improve efficiency, and drive innovation within in-house teams.
A Memorable Conclusion
The conference concluded with a compelling closing speech by Tarek Nakkach, director and general counsel, MEA at Kyndryl. He reflected on the evolution of the in-house legal profession, emphasising the crucial role of technology in modern legal operations. His remarks reinforced the importance of community-driven events like the GC Summit in fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing within the legal industry.
Looking Ahead
On behalf of the Legal 500, we extend our sincere gratitude to our esteemed partners and attendees for making this event a resounding success. We eagerly anticipate returning later this year for the launch of the GC Powerlist: Middle East 2025, our flagship publication celebrating the region’s leading in-house counsel.
Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to support and spotlight the exceptional legal talent in the Middle East!
