Event information
The Legal 500 is thrilled to be heading back to sunny and colourful Lisbon to host the GC Summit: Portugal 2025, on October 23rd. An event tailored exclusively for the country’s esteemed corporate legal community, it aims to offer a platform for networking and knowledge sharing while featuring insights from an incredible lineup of distinguished speakers.
The conference will explore some of the trendiest topics in the country, addressing pressing challenges, emerging opportunities, and strategic developments affecting in-house counsel. Between comprehensive panel discussions, interactive sessions and the opportunity to meet and engage with fellow corporate counsel, the GC Summit: Portugal promises to be a practical, forward-looking event bringing together some of the country’s top legal minds.
Beyond expert insights, the conference provides a unique opportunity to connect with peers, exchange best practices, and stay ahead of evolving responsibilities. The event will culminate in an afternoon of refreshments and networking, ensuring attendees leave with new connections, actionable takeaways and new ideas to implement within their own organisations.
The Legal 500 extends a special invitation to Portugal’s in-house counsel and legal professionals, uniting them for a forward-looking agenda of discussions on the future of corporate legal leadership in 2025 and beyond. Be sure to register and stay updated on the latest event developments.
Join us in shaping the future of corporate counsel in Portugal!
Agenda
8.30am – 9.00am Registration and refreshments
9.00am – 9.10am Welcome address
- Francisco Castro, research editor, Legal 500
9.10am – 10.00am AI in Cybersecurity: Opportunities and Legal Risks
This panel will explore the evolving role of AI in cybersecurity, focusing on both defensive and offensive applications. Key topics will include the use of AI for anomaly detection and automated threat response, as well as the risks posed by malicious actors exploiting AI. Legal liability concerns surrounding AI failures and harm will be discussed, along with incident response strategies in the AI era, covering reputation management, breach detection, legal exposure, and reporting obligations. The session will also address essential contractual considerations when working with AI vendors, such as data sharing, algorithmic liability, and security guarantees. Finally, experts will discuss emerging trends in regulatory enforcement related to AI and cybersecurity, offering insights into future challenges and compliance requirements.
- Ricardo Henriques, partner, Abreu Advogados
- Lara Reis, head of internal control and regulatory affairs department, Novo Banco
- Mafalda Mascarenhas Garcia, cybersecurity lead counsel, EMEA, IBM
- Sílvia Raimundo, legal & governance global unit, EDP
- Pedro Correia, head of legal, Lusíadas Saúde
10.00am – 10.50am The CLO challenges in Mastering Change and Transformation
Organisations face continuous change, presenting unique challenges and opportunities for innovation and improvement. This panel delves into the role of the Chief Legal Officer (CLO) in steering through these complexities and tech disruptions, championing transformation, and fostering a culture of curiosity and openness within the Legal team. The question becomes, can leaders do all of this while making sure the human touch remains the cornerstone of the legal function?
- Sofia Carvalhosa, partner, Deloitte Legal
- Rosemary Martin, senior advisor, Deloitte Legal
- Tiago Ferreira Matos, group general counsel, Hovione
10.50am – 11.05am Coffee Break
11.05am – 11.30am Opportunities and Competition Challenges in the Digital Age
Are you prepared for the challenges of competition law in this digital age? In a dynamic environment where artificial intelligence and data analysis are transforming the way businesses operate, competitive challenges are placing new demands on in-house lawyers. This panel will explore the risks, opportunities, and best practices to ensure that innovation aligns with competition rules. Join this engaging discussion and discover how to turn challenges into opportunities, ensuring healthy competition adapted to the digital era.
- Rita Aleixo Gregório, partner, PLMJ
- Rui Braga, director, data science & AI, artificial intelligence center of excellence, Banco BPI
- Daniel Navas, CFO, COO and board member, Defined.ai
11.30am – 11.55pm Compliance in the Workplace
In today’s intricate regulatory landscape, “Compliance in the Workplace” poses significant challenges for employers and employees alike. Beyond policy enforcement, employers must foster trust, ensure transparency, and align policies with organizational values. Employees, in turn, must embrace the organization’s strategy and policies. Core values – ethical conduct, social responsibility, equal pay, data privacy, and the wellbeing of the organization, its employees, its clients, and the community – must be embedded in the organization’s culture and embraced by its workforce. With ESG principles under increased scrutiny due to the shifting U.S. political dynamics and culture wars, this panel will examine the mindsets and strategies needed to navigate the legal employment, privacy and ESG landscape.
- Guilherme Dray, partner, Macedo Vitorino
- Cláudia Fernandes Martins, partner, Macedo Vitorino
11.55pm – 12.45pm Navigating the Future of HR
Organisations face significant changes in labour relations due to digital, technological, organisational, demographic, and cultural shifts. Emerging issues in human resources management, such as Labour Tech, Diversity & Inclusion, and new work models, require innovative approaches. Key factors driving these changes include algorithmic management, the central role of people within organisations, the impact of intergenerational workforces, and the growing demand for ethical and sustainable practices. To address these challenges, companies must adopt proactive, collaborative strategies, ensuring comprehensive understanding and effective solutions for future labour relations.
- Américo de Oliveira Fragoso, partner, co-head of labour practice, VdA – Vieira de Almeida
- Susana Almeida Lopes, managing partner, SHL Portugal
- Manuel Cavaleiro Brandão, partner, labour practice area, VdA – Vieira de Almeida
- Teresa Vicente, head of people, Portugal, Minsait
12.45pm – 1.00pm Closing Remarks
- Francisco Castro, research editor, Legal 500
1.00pm – 2.00pm Lunch and networking
Speakers
Ricardo Henriques, partner, Abreu Advogados
Ricardo Henriques is a Partner and Co-Head of IP and TMT, with 21 years of experience working primarily on matters related to intellectual property, information technology, personal data protection, media and advertising and telco.
He is also an official Industrial Property Agent and Arbitrator at ARBITRARE (Arbitration Centre for Industrial Property, Domain Names, Trade Names and Corporate Names) as well as arbitrator in several arbitration proceedings.
His experience focuses particularly on technology, on matters such as software licensing, compliance projects regarding emerging technologies and issues related to e-commerce. He has been working on several General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) implementation projects.
Ricardo advises start-ups to the largest market leading companies – regarding the protection and growth of brands patents and other industrial property rights, on an ongoing basis, providing support on advertising activities, including contests and games.
He frequently works with clients on preventing and/or resolving Intellectual Property and Information Technology litigation, focusing on copyrights and technology litigation, intellectual property and technology licensing, data protection and other regulatory issues.
He is an expert at advising wide-ranging national and multinational companies in industries such as automotive, pharmaceutical, services, healthcare, financial, consumer goods manufacturers, hardware and software developers, retail and online retail regarding matters related to intellectual property, compliance, information technology and data privacy and safety.
Lara Reis, head of internal control and regulatory affairs department, Novo Banco
Mafalda Mascarenhas Garcia, cybersecurity lead counsel, EMEA, IBM
Sílvia Raimundo, legal & governance global unit, EDP
Pedro Correia, head of legal, Lusíadas Saúde
Sofia Carvalhosa, partner, Deloitte Legal
Sofia Carvalhosa is a Partner and Global Talent Leader at Deloitte Legal. She is responsible for the Corporate, Commercial Law and Contracts teams, as well as the Angolan Desk team at Deloitte Legal.
In corporate and commercial law, Sofia has been focusing her activity advising corporate restructure of companies, corporate governance, on-going commercial legal advice for Client’s business and negotiation and closing of contracts namely international commercial contracts. She has been actively involved in several transactions, in Portugal and abroad, mainly on global projects with different teams from several jurisdictions including corporate reorganizations and mergers and acquisitions involving cross board transactions in different industries.
She has taken lead roles in several legal Due Diligences, setting up Joint Ventures, corporate incorporation and restructuring of legal entities, transformation of companies, startups, and organizing the contractual planning and commercial legal assistance to clients.
She has been involved in providing legal assistance also in drafting legal understandings, negotiating and revision of agreements, namely in commercial law (distribution contracts) and in industrial and intellectual Property law, in particular image rights.
Sofia holds a master’s degree in Commercial and Corporate Law from Universidade Lusíada de Lisboa, with a published dissertation on Image Rights, a Post-graduation on Securities Law from Law School of Universidade de Lisboa, a Course on Commercial Companies’ Law from the Law School of Universidade Católica Portuguesa de Lisboa and a Law Degree from the Law School of Universidade Lusíada de Lisboa, 1994.
Rosemary Martin, senior advisor, Deloitte Legal
Rosemary Martin is a Senior Advisor to Deloitte Legal where she contributes to a variety of areas across its global business, while sharing insights and experiences with clients and providing counsel to Deloitte.
Rosemary was Vodafone’s Group General Counsel where she was a member of the group executive and had functional responsibilities for legal services, risk and compliance. As Company Secretary to the Vodafone Group, Rosemary provided advice and administrative services to the Vodafone Group Board, ensuring compliance with all statutory and regulatory requirements for a public company.
She previously served as CEO of the Practical Law Group, having spent 11 years with Reuters Group Plc, with the last five years as Group General Counsel and Company Secretary. Before joining Reuters, Rosemary was a partner with Rowe & Maw (now Mayer Brown). She was a Non-Executive Director of HSBC Bank Plc (the European arm of HSBC Group) until April 2016 and a Non-Executive Director of EY until August 2018.
Rosemary was admitted as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court in 1985.
Tiago Ferreira Matos, group general counsel, Hovione
Tiago Ferreira de Matos is General Counsel at Hovione, a global Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) specializing in the development and production of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), drug product intermediates, and inhalation products for the pharmaceutical industry, with a presence in Switzerland, Portugal, United States of America, Ireland, Macau, Japan and India.
Tiago brings over two decades of international legal and executive experience across Europe, North America, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.
He holds a Law degree from the University of Lisbon, an LL.M. in International Law, and a Certificate in Business Administration from Northwestern Pritzker School of Law in Chicago and IE Law School in Madrid.
Prior to joining Hovione in 2017, Tiago served as Legal Director for the Brazilian conglomerate Odebrecht, where he led legal operations across multiple jurisdictions, including Portugal, Middle East and Africa. His role encompassed managing complex cross-border legal matters and overseeing compliance initiatives in diverse regions. Before transitioning to in-house roles in 2007, he was a Senior Associate at a leading Spanish law firm.
At Hovione, Tiago plays a pivotal role in aligning legal strategy with global business objectives, ensuring compliance, and supporting the company’s international operations.
Rita Aleixo Gregório, partner, PLMJ
Rita is a partner in the European Competition practice at PLMJ. With over 20 years of experience, she has focused on advising clients on matters of Portuguese and European competition law, including state aid, cartels, merger control and damages actions.
With extensive experience in investigations, internal audits, training and compliance programmes, Rita has particular expertise in the civil aviation, distribution, energy, finance and waste management sectors, representing clients before the Competition Authority, the European Commission and national and European courts.
In the digital era, she stands out for advising on competition challenges related to artificial intelligence and data analysis, helping companies to innovate in compliance with competition rules. Before joining PLMJ, she was a managing associate at VdA and was part of the restrictive practices department of the Competition Authority.
Rui Braga, director, data science & AI, artificial intelligence center of excellence, Banco BPI
Rui holds a degree in Economics from ISEG, having previously studied at Stockholm University, and a Master’s degree in Management and Information Technology from Aston Business School, UK. He has 20 years of experience in the financial services industry, 6 of which in international projects in Europe, America and Asia, having performed various functions in technical and business domains, always linked to the analytical area. Previously, he participated in the creation and development of the Data Science area of a leading financial institution in Portugal. Since 2022, he has been part of the AI Center of Excellence at Banco BPI, where he leads the Data Science and Data Engineering teams. In recent years, he has undertaken successive executive and hands-on training in the areas of AI and Data Science, with emphasis on MIT’s “Algorithmic Business Thinking” and the Lisbon Data Science Academy.
Daniel Navas, CFO, COO and board member, Defined.ai
With 20 years of experience, started his career at Deloitte as an audit and M&A analyst. Since then has worked in Scytl, Squircle and Defined.ai, where he has been instrumental for international expansion, organic and inorganic growth, processes and tools implementation and improve internal efficiencies. At Defined.ai he is currently the CFO and COO, managing all General & Administration, Research & Development and Sales & Marketing functions.
Américo de Oliveira Fragoso, partner, co-head of labour practice, VdA - Vieira de Almeida
Américo Oliveira Fragoso joined VdA in 2013. Partner co-Head of the Labour practice. In such capacity he has been assisting clients in various areas of Labour Law and Social Security Law, including both individual and collective employment relations.
Américo also representes domestic and foreign clients in numerous corporate restructuring procedures, with regard to the acquisition and sale of companies or undertakings, conducting dismissal proceedings and he is regularly involved in the planning and execution of corporate pension schemes and benefits.
The legal assistance provided also includes the structuring and implementation of pension and benefit plans in companies, as well as advice on the issues marking the future of labour law, related to digitalisation, AI and Labour Tech.
He also represents clients regarding employment litigation.
Susana Almeida Lopes, managing partner, SHL Portugal
Susana is a psychologist with a PhD in organizational psychology. As a professor and researcher at ISEG, she has authored books and numerous papers on talent management, gender equality, and AI applications in HR. Previously, she served as the Talent Director at VdA and is currently the Managing Partner of SHL Portugal. She leads projects on AI, the Future of Work, Analytics, Skills Development, and Gender Equality. Her innovative work has earned her a spot on the Financial Times list of the top 10 most innovative individuals in Europe.
Manuel Cavaleiro Brandão, partner, labour practice area, VdA - Vieira de Almeida
Manuel Cavaleiro Brandão is a Partner of VdA’s Labour practice. He is a leading Labour lawyer in Portugal, boasting over 40 years of experience. Manuel couples his vast experience in Labor Law with a no less significant experience in national and international arbitration, having acted as both counsel and arbitrator in commercial and corporate law, construction and public works, contracts and labor law related arbitration proceedings. Among other roles, he was a member of the Court of Arbitration of ICC – International Chamber of Commerce (Paris) (2002-2005).
Teresa Vicente, head of people, Portugal, Minsait
Guilherme Dray, partner, Macedo Vitorino
Guilherme Dray is a Partner and Head of the Employment Group. Guilherme has over 20
years of experience in the public and private sectors, working primarily on matters related
to labour (employment), civil rights, constitutional, corporate governance, administrative
modernization and government policy.
Guilherme has a strong academic background. Among other things Guilherme is a Professor
at the Faculty of Law of the Lisbon University, where he lectures since 1993, and was a
Visiting Professor at Georgetown University, Washington D.C., United States of America, in
2017.
He has performed academic functions, advisory to government members and consulting and
management in private companies and contributed to the Administrative Modernization areas
in Portugal and in other Lusophone countries such as Brazil, Angola and East Timor.
Guilherme works regularly with the Portuguese Government in mediation roles in labour
disputes and collective bargaining as well as in the drafting of new regulations. He contributed
to Portugal’s Covid-19 relief measures and co-authored the Green Book on the Future of
Work. He coordinated the Portuguese Labor Code reform (2009), and served on the 2003
Labor Code drafting commission. He was Scientific Coordinator of the Green Book on
Employment Market (2016-2017) and is a member of the Labour and Employment Law
Portuguese Association (since 2016) and the University of Lisbon’s School of Law
Internationalization Commission (since 2020)
Cláudia Fernandes Martins, partner, Macedo Vitorino
Cláudia Martins is a Partner and Head of the Compliance Group at MACEDO VITORINO.
Cláudia joined MACEDO VITORINO in 2003, where she now coordinates the
“MVCOMPLIANCE” project, leveraging over 17 years of experience advising national and
international companies. She has relevant expertise in compliance (including privacy and data
protection), competition and EU law, consumer law, information technology, e-commerce,
litigation, and arbitration.
Cláudia is graduated with a Law Degree from the University of Lisbon in 2003, completed a
Postgraduate Diploma in Tax Law – State Aid and Taxation in 2005, and earned a Master’s
Degree in European Competition Law (pre-Bologna) in 2010.
She is a Certified Information Privacy Professional/Europe (CIPP/E) by the International
Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) since 2018.
Cláudia, an esteemed GDPR compliance expert, has supported numerous organizations in
implementation projects since 2018, serving as a Data Protection Officer (DPO) and legal
advisor to DPOs. Since October 2022, she has been the DPO and Compliance Officer for
the Municipality of Sintra and SMAS de Sintra.
Cláudia frequently speaks at seminars and delivers training on compliance-related topics.
Currently, she is a Ph.D. candidate in Law and a Guest Lecturer at the Faculty of Law,
University of Lisbon.
Francisco Castro, research editor, Legal 500
Francisco joined Legal 500 in August 2022, where he is part of the GC Powerlist series editorial team. His work focuses on researching, editing, and interviewing some of the most prominent and exceptional in-house counsel from the world’s largest companies. Francisco’s role also includes hosting a variety of in-person events, such as conferences, publication launches, roundtables, and one-on-one interviews, across multiple regions, all tailored specifically for the in-house legal community. He has also contributed to the Legal 500 webinar series, which delivers market-leading expertise through an engaging digital platform.
Beyond his work with Legal 500, Francisco has extensive research experience in Public Policy, Higher Education, and International Law. His additional academic interests include International Relations, Geopolitics, and International Humanitarian Law. Francisco is fluent in English, Portuguese, and Spanish.
In association with...
Abreu Advogados is a Big Four independent law firm with over 30 years of experience in the Portuguese market, navigating tomorrow’s sectors and industries. As a full-service law firm, Abreu Advogados is one of the fastest-growing law firms in Europe with over 60% growth in 5 years.
With offices in Lisbon, Porto, and Funchal, Abreu has provided highly effective solutions in areas such as Corporate/M&A, Tax, Litigation, and Competition. The team holds a high degree of specialization in key industries for the Portuguese and African economies, such as Energy and Natural Resources, Real Estate, Banking, Technology, Life Sciences, Projects, Tourism and Hospitality.
Its clients consistently choose the firm to seize growth opportunities and to assist with increasingly complex international transactions whilst working with the most prestigious law firms in the world.
The firm´s successfully implemented strategy is to be disruptive and challenge the status quo.
Deloitte Legal Portugal is a full-service law firm, combining legal expertise with industry and business knowledge. With a network of 2,500 legal professionals operating in over 75 countries, Deloitte Legal collaborates in an integrated manner across different geographies and with other Deloitte practices and clusters of expertise. This multidisciplinary approach offers a global yet grounded perspective; pioneering but also pragmatic solutions; and a cross-border overview from a single point of contact.
MACEDO VITORINO is a leading Portuguese law firm. We advise domestic and foreign clients in a wide range of business sectors, including banking, distribution, industry and projects. We are known for our professional and client-oriented approach to complex and difficult matters. Since the incorporation of the firm in 1996 we have been involved in several high-profile transactions in all the firm’s fields of practice, including banking and finance, capital markets, corporate and M&A, employment law, ESG, etc.. We have also acted on many complex disputes and restructurings. We are mentioned by The European Legal 500 in twelve of its fifteen practice areas, including banking and finance, capital markets, project finance, corporate and M&A and litigation. The firm is also recognised by IFLR 1000 and Chambers and Partners for its work in project finance, corporate finance, corporate and M&A, TMT, dispute resolution and restructuring and insolvency
PLMJ is a leading, national, independent law firm in Portugal that is focused on providing legal advice to the business sector, and we have one of the largest teams of lawyers in the country.
Leaders for over 50 years, we are proud of the culture we have built. We see our clients’ challenges as our own and we put our people at the centre of our strategy to always excel in delivering value to everyone who places their trust in us.
Our teams are made up of the best lawyers in the country, we provide a full-service, and we take a multidisciplinary approach. The agility of our teams combined with in-depth knowledge of the sectors where our clients operate is a defining feature of the way we position ourselves: as true legal partners.
Vieira de Almeida (VdA) is a leading international law firm with more than 40 years of history, recognised for its impressive track record and innovative approach in corporate legal services. The excellence of its highly specialised legal services covering several industries and practice areas enables VdA to overcome the increasingly complex challenges faced by its clients.
VdA offers robust solutions grounded in consistent standards of excellence, ethics and professionalism. Recognition of the excellence of our work is shared by the entire team, as well as with clients and stakeholders, and is acknowledged by leading professional associations, legal publications and academic entities. VdA has been consistently recognised for its outstanding and innovative services, having received the most prestigious international accolades and awards of the legal industry including the Financial Times Most Innovative Firm in Continental Europe.
Through the VdA Legal Partners network, clients have access to 7 jurisdictions, with a broad sectoral coverage in all Portuguese-speaking African countries, as well as Timor-Leste.
Angola – Cabo Verde – Equatorial Guinea – Mozambique Portugal – Sao Tome and Principe