Senior counsel | Tabaqueira (Philip Morris International)
Hall of fame
Senior legal counsel | Securitas - Security Services Ibero America
Legal, compliance and public affairs director and company secretary | The Navigator Company
Head of legal and compliance and secretary to the board of directors | Banco Primus
Head of legal Iberia and Global co-head of McKinsey legal sustainability | McKinsey & Company
Country legal counsel and compliance head | Citibank Portugal
Hall of fame
Group general counsel, chief compliance officer and company secretary | Fidelidade
Hall of fame
Head of legal, compliance (DPO and AML) and corporate affairs | Pignus - Crédito Económico Popular
General counsel and company secretary | TAP Air Portugal
Legal counsel | Tabaqueira (Philip Morris International)
Rising stars
Head of legal and company secretary | REN - Redes Energéticas Nacionais
Head of legal and compliance | Corticeira Amorim
Hall of fame
Head of legal, compliance and company secretary | Altri
Company secretary, director of governance and compliance | Semapa – Sociedade de Investimento e Gestão
Head of legal | Sociedade Central de Cervejas e Bebidas and Novadis
Building on the success of last year’s inaugural GC Powerlist: Portugal, we are thrilled to introduce the 2024 edition, spotlighting the nation’s most successful and accomplished in-house lawyers. This publication celebrates the exceptional achievements and innovative approaches of the selected individuals as they navigate the complexities of the Portuguese legal landscape.Â
This year, we are proud to present the second-ever GC Powerlist edition to feature a Hall of Fame category. This prestigious section honours the most distinguished corporate lawyers who have made a lasting impact over the past two decades. Inclusion in the Hall of Fame is a testament to a lawyer’s outstanding track record, extensive experience, and significant influence on Portugal’s legal field. This new section celebrates their enduring contributions and aims to inspire the next generation of in-house lawyers.Â
Within these pages, you will find in-depth profiles and exclusive interviews with the most influential and highly regarded general counsel from a diverse range of industries. These individuals have consistently demonstrated their ability to shape legal strategies, mitigate risks, and provide invaluable strategic guidance to their organisations. Their achievements serve as an inspiration to the legal community, showcasing the profound impact that in-house lawyers can have on shaping business strategies and driving remarkable success.Â
Split between individuals, Hall of Fame and Rising Stars categories, this publication covers many relevant topics and challenges unique to the in-house legal field. We invite you to explore the GC Powerlist: Portugal 2024 and discover the extraordinary stories of these exceptional professionals. Through their experiences and insights, we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the in-house legal landscape in Portugal and highlight the invaluable contributions of the country’s top corporate lawyers.Â
On behalf of The Legal 500, I extend our deepest gratitude to all the in-house lawyers featured in this publication for their valuable contributions and for sharing their journeys with us. It is my pleasure to present to you this distinguished collection, showcasing Portugal’s future generation of brilliant general counsel and the current most exceptional, diligent, and celebrated in-house lawyers.Â
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Francisco Castro | Senior research analyst | GC Powerlist seriesÂ
As we reflect on the past year, we are reminded of the myriad challenges that have tested our resilience and adaptability. The global landscape has been marked by unprecedented uncertainties, from economic fluctuations to regulatory changes and unforeseen crises. Yet, amidst these trials, I have witnessed remarkable fortitude and ingenuity within the internal legal teams of our companies.
It is truly inspiring to see how you, the leaders of these teams, have navigated through these turbulent times with such grace and determination. Your ability to foresee risks, manage complexities, and provide sound legal guidance has been instrumental in steering your organisations toward stability and growth. The legal landscape is continually evolving, and your proactive approach in adapting to these changes is commendable. You have tackled intricate legal issues, navigated regulatory mazes, and strategized for the future, ensuring that our companies remain robust in an ever-changing world.
I must take a moment to express our heartfelt admiration for the internal legal teams you lead. Your dedication, expertise, and unwavering commitment have not gone unnoticed. It is your hard work behind the scenes that fortifies your companies, safeguarding their interests and enabling their ambitions.
The growth of these internal legal teams, under your exemplary leadership, has also been a source of growth and deep learning for us. As we engage with such dynamic and forward-thinking professionals, we too are driven to innovate, improve, and elevate our own practices. Your leadership not only influences your companies but also sets a benchmark for the wider legal community.
In conclusion, I want to extend PLMJ’s deepest thanks for sharing your valuable time with us. It has been a pleasure and an honour to share in your journey, to witness your resilience, and to grow together. As we look ahead, let us continue to build on this foundation of trust and collaboration, facing the future with confidence and optimism.
Thank you, and here’s to another year of shared success and mutual growth.
On Thursday 20th March, Legal 500 returned to Frankfurt for the 2025 edition of the GC Summit: Germany. The event brought together some of the leading legal minds in the country for an afternoon of engaging panel discussions and interactive sessions. The agenda spanned a range of topics, current in today’s dynamic market and tailored to in-house counsel.
Vanessa Westphal, Head of legal services group at Merck, opened the programme with a keynote speech, in which she touched upon the importance of embracing uncertainty. In a market where the ways in which in-house counsel operate is rapidly changing, from the resources available to transactions themselves, Westphal advised how the legal industry can strengthen both its legal and non-legal ‘backbone’: in-house teams should focus not only on legal prowess, but also improve cultural and management expertise to ensure smooth operations across the organisation.
The first panel of the day, sponsored by Seitz, discussed the crucial role that labour law can play in times of crisis. Dr. Kathrin Bürger and Dr. Stephan Pötters of Seitz were joined on stage by Prof. Dr. Marlene Schmidt, partner at Apitzsch Schmidt Klebe Rechtsanwälte, Ralph Wangemann, managing director of human resources and labour director at Opel Automobile, Dr. Tom Gellrich, partner and managing director at AlixPartners, and Olaf Möllenkamp, chairman, Conciliation boards. In light of the election process in Germany, the panel discussed the ever-relevant topic of labour law and examined how the current environment does not make for a classic crisis: various different factors, from digitalisation to ESG aspects, come together to create a complex type of crisis that requires a more nuanced approach to labour regulations.
Ashurst took to the stage for the second panel, considering the influence that environmental, social and governance (ESG) measures and artificial intelligence (AI) can have on joint ventures. Dr. Alexander Duisberg, Marina Arntzen and Dr. Stephan Hennrich, partners at the firm, discussed the hot topic with Maler James, head of the centre of competence for strategic business units and finance at compliance at Volkswagen, Philip Nicolai, general counsel commercial and technology at Schaeffler Group, and Thilo M. Tern, managing partner at Silvester Group. The experts analysed how these elements can be utilised to make joint ventures successful and more sustainable – and ultimately act as dealbreakers or dealmakers.
Following a short break for coffee and networking, experts returned to the stage to discuss how to navigate today’s challenging M&A market. Dr. Christian Traichel and Dr Marco Hartmann-Rüppel, partners at Taylor Wessing, were joined on stage for the firm’s panel by
Carsten Burger, managing director at DC Advisory, Viktor Strauch, partner at Borromin, and Alexander Deicke of Körber. The panel considered how to manage transactions, taking into account risk, uncertainty and regulation.
The final panel of the day brought fresh perspectives on the age-old question: to litigate or to arbitrate? Nicole Boehler, Director of legal operations Europe at Autoliv, engaged in lively debate with Horst Daniel and Dr. Eveli Lume of Squire Patton Boggs, weighing up the pros and cons of litigation and arbitration. The panellists discussed factors such as bias, confidentiality, costs and recoverability. The interactive panel saw plenty of involvement from the audience, with questions from attendees touching on international mediation and third-party funding.
In a true show of the relevance and significance of the panel topics, delegates continued their animated conversations and debates over final networking drinks.
On behalf of Legal 500, we extend our gratitude to our expert panellists, sponsors, and all attendees for coming together for such a productive, engaging and successful event.
