General counsel and corporate secretary | Virtuoso
Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary | Ashford Hospitality Trust and Braemar Hotels & Resorts
Mr. Rose is Ashford’s executive vice president, general counsel and secretary, and he serves in the same roles for Ashford Hospitality Trust and Braemar Hotels & Resorts. Mr. Rose brings...
Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel and Secretary | OW OceanWinds
Managing Director, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary | Texas Capital Bank
Chief legal officer and general counsel | Keurig Dr Pepper
Anthony Shoemaker serves as chief legal officer, general counsel and corporate secretary for Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP). Prior to his appointment in 2021, he had been with the company for...
Executive Vice President, Performance and Essential Materials, General Counsel and Chief Administrative Officer | Westlake
General Counsel and Corporate Secretary | LTK
Brittany DeGan is a seasoned general counsel and corporate secretary with a passion for managing and building legal and business teams, scaling high-growth technology companies, creating process improvements, and driving...
Senior vice president, chief risk officer and chief compliance officer | Sempra Infrastructure
Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary | Contango Resources
EVP, General Counsel, Chief Administrative Officer, Chief Compliance Officer & Corporate Secretary | Orion Group Holdings
SVP, General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer & Corporate Secretary | Select Water Solutions
Executive vice president, chief legal officer and secretary | TechnipFMC
Formerly senior Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel | Texas Instruments
Executive Vice President,General Counsel and Secrey | Huntsman
Vice President - Corporate Counsel; General Counsel of Prudential Asset Resources, Inc. | Prudential Asset Resources
Executive vice president and general counsel | Quanta Services
General Counsel | Vice President of Compliance | Corporate Secretary | Bluebell Creameries
He is a native Texan, having grown up in Arlington where his parents still live. He graduated cum laude from Texas A&M University in College Station, spending four years as...
Executive vice president and general counsel | Crown Castle
SVP, General Counsel, Head of Government Affairs, and Corporate Secretary | Bristow Group
Elizabeth Matthews is a C-suite executive and global business leader with over twenty-five years of board-level experience, functional experience, and reporting lines that included government affairs, insurance/risk management, regulatory, technology,...
Senior Vice President - Legal, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary | Sysco
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary | Wingstop
Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary | Group 1 Automotive
Executive vice president, business affairs and general counsel | Houston Texans
Director, Executive Vice President, General counsel and secretary | Enterprise Products
Group general counsel, chief compliance officer | Infosys
Inderpreet is the group general counsel and the chief compliance officer of Infosys. In this role, she leads the legal and compliance function of the company. She is a strategic...
Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer | Energy Transfer
Vice President and General Counsel | Active Cyber
I started my career in the Dallas office of Weil in the Private Equity Mergers and Acquisitions Group before moving to Sidley Austin. I left Sidley Austin to become in-house...
Chief Operating Officer and Chief Legal Officer | Carnelian Energy Capital
Executive vice president & chief legal and administrative officer | Hewlett Packard Enterprise
General Counsel and corporate secretary | Talen Energy
John Wander joined Talen Energy in June 2023 as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary. In this position, he leads the Company’s Legal and Regulatory and External Affairs functions, oversees corporate...
Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel | Advanced Diagnostics Healthcare System
Vice president and general counsel | Arca Continental/Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages
Joseph serves as Vice President and General Counsel of Arca Continental/Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages. He is a graduate of The McCallie School and received a bachelor’s degree from Columbia University and...
Executive vice president and general counsel | Pioneer Natural Resources Company
Senior Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary | Key Energy Services
Senior Vice President - Legal, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary | Kodiak Gas Services
enior vice president, Legal, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary | ConocoPhillips
General Counsel and Corporate Secretary | Acme Brick Company
General Counsel | Crow Holdings
Kevin Bryant is general counsel of Crow Holdings and is responsible for all legal matters and tax planning. He also is responsible for the structuring and formation of the Crow...
Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary | Fluor Corporation
Executive Director, General Counsel | Kubota Tractor Corporation
General counsel, PepsiCo Foods North America | PepsiCo
Leanne Oliver serves as the senior vice president and general counsel for PepsiCo Foods North America, a combined $USD30bn business which includes Frito-Lay North America and Quaker Foods North America....
General Counsel, Corporate Secretary & Chief Compliance Officer | Sterling Infrastructure
Executive Vice President, Chief Legal and Regulatory Officer | Southwest Airlines Company
Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary | Eagle Materials
SVP, General Counsel, and Chief Compliance Officer | Trillium Flow Technologies
Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary | Cinemark Holdings
SVP, General Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer | Nabors Industries
Executive vice president and general counsel | CenterPoint Energy
Monica Karuturi is Executive Vice President and General Counsel of CenterPoint Energy. In this role, she oversees the company’s legal department and risk management functions, including claims, environmental, insurance, enterprise...
Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, Secretary | Lennox
Monica Brown was appointed executive vice president and chief legal officer in January 2025. She joined Lennox in 2012 and has served in various leadership roles, including vice president and...
VP of Land & General Counsel | Santo Petroleum
Nicole Singer is the Vice President of Land and General Counsel of Santo Petroleum and its affiliated companies. Santo is a privately-owned independent minerals, royalties, exploration and production company with...
Chief legal officer, Executive Vice President | Universal weather & Aviation
Omar J. Fahel is a seasoned corporate executive and legal professional with extensive experience in strategic planning, corporate governance, risk management, and international business law. With a proven track record...
Executive Vice President & General Counsel | Cenergy International Services
Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary | Copart
Executive Vice President Sustainability and Governance and Chief Legal Officer | Mcdermott International
Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary | Academy Sports + Outdoors
Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary | Plains All American Pipeline
Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel | American Airlines
Senior vice president & chief administrative officer | Enerflex
Regional General Counsel - North America | Fortescue Future Industries
Group Vice President, General Counsel, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary | Toyota North America
Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer | Trinity Industries
Mr. Ewing joined Trinity in 2015 as Associate General Counsel and was named Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer in 2023. Prior to joining Trinity, he was a lawyer...
Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary | Cheniere Energy
Senior Vice President & Chief Legal Officer | Austin Industries
Chief Legal Counsel, Compliance Officer, and Corporate Secretary | PetroTal
Chief Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary | AZZ
Tara Mackey has served as AZZ Inc.’s Chief Legal Officer & Secretary since 2014, where she manages all legal matters for the company, Corporate Governance, M&A, SEC Reporting, the AZZ...
Chief legal officer and corporate secretary | The Container Store
Chief Legal Officer, Corporate Secretary and Chief Compliance Officer | The Neiman Marcus Group
Executive Vice President, Secretary, and Chief Legal Officer | Halliburton
EVP Government Affairs, GC & Corporate Secretary | Phillips 66
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary | Battalion Oil Corporation
Chief Compliance Officer, SVP - Legal, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary | Antero Resources
Legal 500 is back again with yet another maiden edition; GC Powerlist Texas. While this is our first dedicated focus on the great state of Texas, it’s far from our first foray into the US, and we are excited to introduce another title to the ever-growing GC Powerlist series. With its vast and diverse legal landscape, Texas presented a unique challenge in identifying the top in-house counsel, but it has been a rewarding process. From Dallas and Austin to San Antonio, Houston, and beyond, we are proud to highlight the outstanding legal professionals who are leading the charge in this dynamic state.
As we engaged with senior in-house counsel across Texas, we heard insightful reflections on the trends shaping their work. As one counsel shared, “Politically, anticipating changes which may occur in a new administration and ‘future proofing’ our agreements, to the extent possible, has been a focus for our team.” Another noted the shift in federal regulatory actions, “federal regulatory initiatives initiated during the current administration that place significant burdens on companies (i.e. FTC non-compete rules, EPA emissions targeting, Corporate Transparency Act, and other attempts by federal agencies to appropriate state regulatory functions) will likely be pulled back by the new administration…” And reflecting on broader global trends, one senior in-house counsel pointed out, “first, the current geopolitical uncertainty will continue to add complexity and unpredictability for businesses, especially the ones with large global operations.”
We are grateful for the opportunity to engage with such a high calibre of in-house counsel from across this vast state, and we look forward to continuing to track the legal landscape in Texas in the years ahead.
A special thank you to Weil, Gotshal & Manges for their generous support in making this edition possible. We are excited to unveil these profiles and recognize the incredible talent in Texas!
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!
