Head of legal - Vietnam and Asia Area frontier markets / director of legal affairs and organisational capacity development | AstraZeneca
Chief legal officer | Hoi An South Development
General counsel and head of legal, compliance, and corporate affairs | Pharmacity
Head of legal, compliance and government affairs | Asia Clean Capital Vietnam
Director of legal and compliance division | MB Shinsei Finance (Mcredit)
Head of legal and contract manager | Ricons Construction Investment
Senior vice president - head of legal | Emergent Property Services Vietnam
We are beyond thrilled to announce the second edition of the GC Powerlist: Vietnam, building on the success of last year’s inaugural publication. This edition highlights a whole new plethora of accomplished in-house lawyers in one of the world’s foremost high-growth and high-potential economies. As well as celebrating their exceptional achievements and innovative approaches as they navigate the complexities of the legal landscape, we delve into what creative strategies they have used to navigate the unique challenges they face in the Vietnamese business context.
The in-house legal community in Vietnam expands its knowledge base every day, with local lawyers increasingly taking on prominent roles internationally. The GC Powerlist Team is proud to foster connections within this vibrant and positive in-house legal community.
Inside this edition, you will find in-depth profiles and exclusive interviews with influential general counsel from a variety of industries. These professionals have consistently demonstrated their capacity to shape legal strategies, mitigate risks, and provide invaluable guidance to their organisations. Their accomplishments inspire the legal community, showcasing the significant impact that in-house lawyers can have on business strategies and overall success.
As in-house counsel play a more active role in decision-making, they are well-positioned to advise on building strong partnerships. Tong Thi Thu Thao, head of legal and contract manager at Ricons Construction Investment, shares insights on collaboration: “The key to successful partnerships is being proactive, maintaining effective communication, and engaging early to align legal and business objectives. This means considering commercial factors, rather than focusing solely on legal issues. In-house legal counsel should actively understand their company’s operations and strategic goals, regularly update on relevant regulations, and provide timely support, even without specific requests from management. By adopting a proactive approach and ensuring transparency in all communications, the legal team builds trust and fosters a shared goal of mutual growth. Legal leaders should position their function as facilitators, helping the business achieve its objectives within the legal framework.”
This publication addresses various topics and challenges unique to the in-house legal sector. We invite you to explore the GC Powerlist: Vietnam 2024 and discover the remarkable stories of these exceptional professionals. Through their experiences and insights, we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of Vietnam’s in-house legal landscape, highlighting the invaluable contributions of the nation’s top corporate lawyers.
On behalf of The Legal 500, I extend my deepest gratitude to all the featured in-house lawyers for their valuable contributions and for sharing their journeys with us. It is my pleasure to present this distinguished collection, showcasing Vietnam’s most exceptional and dedicated in-house legal talent.
Joe Boswell
Global editor – GC Powerlist
The Legal 500
The Legal 500 welcomed 150 of Colombia’s leading in-house lawyers and private practice advisors to the Bogota Grand Hyatt’s plush El Dorado conference space for our 2025 GC Summit Colombia. From top to bottom the agenda provided excellent takeaways on a range of issues for the GCs in attendance, and thanks go to Legal 500 editor Margherita Birri and our event sponsors for putting together such an engaging program of discussions.
The opening panel explored the complexities of corporate taxation in Colombia, emphasising the latest reforms and their implications for businesses. Jairo Higuita Naranjo, managing partner at Esguerra JHR and Andersen, and his colleagues Carlos Giovanni Rodríguez and Bibiana Buitrago Duarte provided an in-depth analysis of key taxes, including Corporate Income Tax, VAT, and Wealth Tax. They addressed fiscal incentives and strategies to navigate evolving compliance requirements.
Adding a corporate perspective, Carlos Felipe Payan Rodriguez, senior corporate legal counsel and compliance officer at Avaya, and Mario Gómez, vice president of legal affairs for Alianza Fiduciaria, shared real-world insights into the challenges companies face in adapting to these tax changes. The panel emphasised the importance of proactive tax planning and robust compliance frameworks to mitigate risks and take advantage of incentives.
In the second session, a focus on corporate criminal liability within Colombian legislation revealed the increasing importance of compliance as both a legal necessity and a strategic advantage. Andrés Francisco Sintura Sánchez and Francisco José Sintura Varela, both of Francisco Sintura, highlighted key aspects of Colombian corporate criminal law and the ethical responsibilities tied to liability.
Jorge Adrián Rincón Plata, chief legal officer at Grupo Aval, expanded the discussion with examples of how large organisations manage these risks. Juliana Hoyos, general counsel at SierraCol, concluded with practical steps for building resilient compliance programs, emphasising ethical leadership as a foundation for success.
Following a brief coffee break, the conference resumed with a panel on the transformative impact of Law No. 2387 of 2024, which introduces personal liability for corporate officers regarding administrative environmental fines. Erika Serrano of Posse Herrera Ruiz opened the session by outlining the legal framework and its implications for general counsel.
Lina María Betancourth Betancur, legal manager of Colombina, and Jorge Mario Castillo, senior general counsel of Automotores Toyota Colombia, shared their perspectives on balancing corporate compliance with personal accountability. Santiago Lizarralde-Méndez, director of legal at Alianza Team, provided insights into mitigating risks through enhanced internal processes and legal safeguards. Together, the panel underscored the need for proactive strategies to adapt to this significant shift in legal responsibilities.
The conference concluded with an engaging discussion on ethical dilemmas in Colombia’s legal market. Executive partner Enrique Gómez-Pinzón of Holland & Knight introduced the critical issue of conflicts of interest, highlighting the interplay between business conflicts and ethical safeguards such as informational barriers. Partner Jose Vicente Zapata, also of Holland & Knight, elaborated on practical measures to address these challenges. Fabiola Margarita Martinez, regional legal vice president at Cemex, brought the discussion to life with examples from her experience managing conflicts in complex corporate settings. The session emphasised transparency and ethical vigilance as essential components of professional integrity.
Following our final panel session, guests moved to the extremely well-attended drinks reception, where conversations continued on the topics brought up at the event as well as all manner of other topics as old friends, colleagues, mentors and mentees re-connected over a glass of wine. We look forward to the 2026 edition of the GC Summit Colombia, where we will continue to raise the bar.
