Event Report
Last week, Legal 500 had the absolute pleasure of celebrating the launch of the GC Powerlist Canada 2026. With the skylines of Toronto and Vancouver as our incredible backdrop, we gathered at DLA Piper’s offices in both cities with some of the most prestigious names in the country’s in-house legal community.
Behind those names, titles and recognitions are exceptional professionals who, over the past year, have demonstrated remarkable resilience, a commitment to innovation, and an impeccable understanding of what it means to be a good leader in a profession that is under constant pressure and change.
During the evening, Carmen Godoy, lead editor of this year’s GC Powerlist Canada, welcomed attendees and shared the findings of this year’s research. Throughout the past year, key themes emerged, including resilience in the face of uncertainty, the responsible integration of AI into the legal function, and the growing strategic role of the general counsel within the business.
What stood out most during the research was how the legal leaders recognised in this year’s Powerlist understand that the lasting impact of their achievements must be grounded in a leadership style that always puts people first.
During our events, Russel Drew, Partner and CEO at DLA Piper Canada in Toronto, and Brian Hiebert, Partner at DLA Piper Canada in Vancouver, also shared words of encouragement and gratitude, recognising the important and valuable contributions that our powerlisters make to their organisations and to the broader legal profession.
We would like to thank DLA Piper for its support in fostering these opportunities to bring together the in-house legal community around the world.
And to our powerlisters, congratulations on a truly well-deserved recognition. It was a great pleasure to host you and learn more about your experiences and achievements. Thank you for being part of our GC community, and we hope to see you again soon.
Carmen Godoy Martin – Lead editor GC Powerlist Canada 2026.
In association with...
