Legal director | Mercado Livre
Executive legal director and chief compliance officer - Latin America | Bridgestone Brazil
Assistant general counsel | Microsoft
General counsel and executive vice president | Banco Santander Brasil
Executive vice president, corporate and external affairs | Vale
Counsel | J.P. Morgan
Senior legal director | Oracle
Legal and corporate compliance director for Latin America | Volvo Brazil
Senior legal director for Latin America | ADP
Legal, compliance and corporate governance director | Grupo Gramado Parks
Legal manager | Great Wall Motor Brasil
General counsel and chief compliance and governance officer | Inter
General counsel for Latin America | Scania Latin America
Tax specialist manager | Vale
Legal manager | TPI - Triunfo Participações e Investimentos
General counsel for South America | Sibelco Brasil
General counsel | Lavoro Agor
Legal director, CropScience | Bayer
Legal director | Enel
Legal executive manager | BRF
Corporate legal manager, institutional and governmental relations and compliance | Grupo Tigre
General counsel, grains and oilseeds, Brazil | COFCO International
Associate general counsel | Baxter International
Chief legal and compliance officer | Logicalis
Vice president, legal | Vivo (Telefônica Brasil)
General counsel | Conexa Saúde
Legal director for Brazil and Portugal | BYJU'S Learning
General counsel | Orizon Valorização de Resíduos
General counsel | BTG Pactual
General counsel and governance officer | Usiminas
Associate general counsel - Latin America | Enerflex
General legal counsel | Lojas Renner
Legal vice president of corporate affairs and regulation | AES Brasil
Head of legal department | Banco Toyota Brazil
Chief counsel for Latin America | Zoetis
General counsel and compliance officer | Oncoclinicas Brazil
General counsel and compliance director | Contabilizei
General counsel | Horiens Risk Advisors
Head of legal department | Braskem
Vice president and general counsel for Latin America | Unisys
Senior legal manager for Brazil | The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
Country manager and senior legal counsel | Biz Latin Hub Brasil
Head of legal and tax department | Camil Alimentos
Legal manager | Atlas Copco
Head of legal for Latin America | Galderma
Legal director, Latin America | IBM
Legal manager on institutional compliance | Multiplan Empreendimentos Imobiliários
Managing counsel | Banco Next
Legal superintendent | Banco Bmg
Executive legal manager | Hyundai Motor Brasil
Director of Legal and Regulations | CEMIG
General counsel | Raia Drogasil
Legal director | Bayer
Head of legal department, member of the compliance committee | Cobra IS
Executive vice president, general counsel and chief compliance officer | Embraer
Legal director | Ultragaz
Legal manager | Bravante Group
General counsel | XP Inc
Assistant general counsel and legal director for Brazil | GSK
Legal director for Brazil, Venezuela, Central America and the Caribbean | Janssen
Legal director | Grupo Soma
Director, associate general counsel | Bank of America, Brazil
Corporate legal director | Energisa
Legal director for Latin America | Sherwin-Williams
General counsel | AIG Seguros Brasil
Associate general counsel | Embraer
General counsel and chief compliance officer | Eve Holding
Legal director for Brazil | EssilorLuxottica
Executive legal director and organizational culture PMO | Minerva Foods
General counsel for Latin America | The Coca-Cola Company
General counsel and M&A director | Vero Internet
Senior legal manager for Brazil, Central America and the Caribbean | Janssen
Associate general counsel, global litigation for Latin America, the Caribbean and United States | Shell Brasil Petróleo
Head of legal and compliance | Santos Brasil Participações
Managing director and director of legal services for Brazil | Accenture
General counsel and compliance officer | Hidrovias do Brasil
General counsel | B3
Legal and international relations vice president | Ipiranga Produtos de Petróleo
Legal director, corporate, M&A and compliance | Ambev
Head of legal and compliance | Órigo Energia
General counsel | Andrade Gutierrez
General counsel for South America | Imerys
Head of legal for East Coast of South America | Maersk Group
Legal director, Brazil | Uber
General counsel | SingularityNET
Executive legal director | Hapvida
Legal manager | LATAM Airlines Brasil
Group chief legal and compliance officer and general counsel | Natura & Co
Vice president legal | Bracell
Power legal director | Raízen
Head of legal and compliance director | StoneX
Managing director and head of legal South America | Morgan Stanley
General counsel | Rede D'Or São Luiz
General counsel | Eletrobras
Legal director, compliance officer and data protection officer | Equatorial Energia
General counsel and corporate affairs | Itaú Unibanco
Associate general counsel | Amazon
Director of legal, governance, risk and compliance | VLI Logística
Legal manager, compliance, data protection and ESG for Latin America | SmartFit
Legal and ethics, risk and compliance director | Sandoz
Legal executive manager | Suzano
Director of global legal projects | Getinge
Legal manager and data protection officer | Bem Promotora
Legal manager | Cielo
Executive general counsel | General Electric Brazil
General counsel | Neoenergia
Vice president of legal and business affairs | Warner Bros Discovery
Chief legal, ethics and compliance officer | Ambev
Senior legal manager | Sanofi
General counsel | Cielo
Legal director | Banco Bmg
Legal director | Copaenergia Distribuídora de Gás
General counsel | Constellation Investimentos e Participações
Legal Manager | Banco do Brasil
Vice-President, Legal, Government Affairs & Sustainability | Siemens
Chief legal officer | Engie
Senior legal manager | Bimbo QSR (left in February 2023)
Head of legal and LGPD | Grupo Zaragoza
Chief legal, risk and compliance officer | Prisma Capital
Head of legal | Citrosuco
Legal affairs director for South America | Volkswagen Brazil
Legal manager | SmartFit
Specialist legal counsel | Aperam South America
Vice president, legal, Brazil | Kinross Brasil Mineração
Head of corporate, finance and M&A affairs | Enel
General counsel, Brazil | J.P. Morgan
Legal superintendent of renewables and new businesses | Neoenergia
General counsel, ice cream Latam and legal marketing lead for Brazil | Unilever
Legal general, labour matters | Whirlpool Corporation
Head of legal | SBT - Sistema Brasileiro de Televisão
Legal manager | Kinross Brasil Mineração
Legal manager | American Tower Company
Director and associate general counsel for APAC and LATAM | Meta
Legal director | Teva Pharmaceuticals
Legal manager | BRK Ambiental
Head of legal | ZAMP
Head of legal | GranEnergia
Legal director | Qualicorp
General Counsel and head of compliance and audit for Latin America | Panasonic Latin America
Regional director of legal, brand protection, privacy and corporate security | Diageo
Associate general counsel | Blue Yonder
Country manager and head of legal | Phillips
Latin America legal director | Archer Daniels Midland - ADM
Legal manager | Reckitt Hygiene Comercial
General counsel | Yduqs
Legal director and data protection officer | Valeo
General counsel for Brazil | Brookfield
Corporate legal manager, business development | WEG ON
Head of legal | ThoughtWorks
General counsel for Brazil | Nubank
Legal and compliance manager | Lorinvest Gestão de Recursos
Head of legal and compliance | Tenda Atacado
Corporate, M&A, contracts, IP and civil legal director and data protection officer | Via
General counsel for Brazil | Dentsu
Legal, governance and compliance director | Companhia Brasileira de Aluminio
General counsel Brazil | Goldman Sachs
Legal and compliance director | MWM International
Legal director for Brazil | JTI
General counsel, wealth management | Credit Suisse Brasil
Legal manager of renewables and corporate development | Neoenergia
Legal manager | Banco Bradesco
General counsel for Brazil | Mubadala Capital
Managing director, legal and compliance | CPP Investments
Legal director, chief risk and compliance officer for Latin America | Orpea Groupe
General Counsel for Latin America | Experian
Legal director | Laboratórios Pfizer
Regional general counsel for Latin America and the Caribbean | Biogen
Chief counsel for global mining | Vale
Chief legal and institutional relations officer | Localiza Rent a Car
General counsel | Petrobras
General counsel and compliance officer | Generali Brasil Seguros
General counsel | Gerdau
Legal manager | Banco Santander Brasil
Senior legal manager | Novelis
General counsel, governance, risk and compliance officer | Eneva
Senior legal manager | Mondelēz International
Regional general counsel for Latin America | Zurich Latin America Serviços Brasil
General counsel for South America | Schaeffler
Legal manager | Ultrapar Participações
Legal, compliance, public policy and purchases director | Loggi Tecnologia
Legal director for Brazil | FCA Fiat Chrysler Automobiles
Legal manager | Equatorial Maranhão Distribuidora de Energia
It is with great pleasure and excitement that we, on behalf of The Legal 500, extend a warm welcome to the GC Powerlist: Brazil 2023. This highly anticipated publication is dedicated to recognising and celebrating the exceptional accomplishments of the top in-house lawyers in the country.
This publication showcases the remarkable contributions made by in-house legal professionals to businesses in Brazil. It serves as a testament to their expertise, leadership, and dedication to excellence. This year’s edition highlights the outstanding achievements and innovative approaches adopted, as those selected navigate the complexities of the Brazilian legal environment, tackling issues such as the Covid-19 pandemic, technological advancements, relationship with business partners, diversity and inclusion initiatives, and many others.
Within the pages of this edition, you will find detailed profiles and exclusive interviews with the most influential and respected general counsel across a diverse range of industries. These individuals have consistently demonstrated their ability to drive legal strategy, manage risks, and provide strategic guidance to their respective organisations. Their accomplishments serve as an inspiration to the legal community and exemplify the impact that in-house lawyers can have on their organisations’ business strategy and success.
This research brings to light several key findings, including the resilience and adaptability of companies during the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite the numerous challenges faced, business operations did not come to a halt. This was made possible through the remarkable efforts of in-house counsel, who worked tirelessly to navigate new regulations and guidelines, ensuring business continuity during these testing times. With growing concerns about the effects of the pandemic on mental health, several legal departments acted on it, including Petrobras’ legal team who, in the words of its general counsel, Taísa Maciel, ‘created a diversity, inclusion and welfare committee, to discuss relevant topics that affect our employees and society as a whole. This way, we are attentive to the care of people, without forgetting to look at the company’s business.’
Furthermore, the research emphasises the ongoing need for improvement in the relationship between the legal team and business partners. While in-house counsel demonstrated their value during the pandemic, there is still room for progress in fostering stronger collaboration and understanding between legal and business functions. As Carolina De Nardi, senior director and chief counsel for Latin America at Zoetis, affirms: ‘putting yourself in the shoes of your business partners is key to understand their priorities and needs. Once this happens, an in-house lawyer will have the ability to anticipate most concerns and questions. As a result, the relationship will develop and become strong with good level of communication and trust.’ As this research has recognised, by enhancing communication and alignment, companies can leverage the full potential of their legal teams to drive strategic decision-making and risk management.
The research also underscores the importance of embracing technology for the benefit of companies. With the ongoing acceleration of digital transformation, the introduction of technology has proved invaluable in ensuring business continuity. Interviewed in-house counsel emphasise the need for continued encouragement and adoption of technology to optimise efficiency, streamline processes, and unlock new opportunities for companies. As voiced by many interviewees, echoed by Fernando Borges Porelo, general counsel at AIG Seguros Brasil, ‘a technological advancement that I believe will greatly impact the role of any in-house legal team in the future is artificial intelligence. This technology presents itself as an important milestone for any employer of any industry to perform their work, and the legal sector is no exception to that rule. I believe AI will be a very useful tool, making our work more cost effective, simplifying tasks, and automating other duties that we find timewasting and unproductive.’ Technological advancements are inevitable and legal departments should embrace them and use them to maximise their efficiency as, like Ciro Azevedo, head of legal at Braskem, states, ‘it is up to managers to constantly monitor new technologies and functionalities that can improve the management of legal departments’.
There are many other relevant topics and challenges exclusively discussed in this publication, so we invite you to explore The GC Powerlist: Brazil 2023 and discover the extraordinary stories of these exceptional individuals. Through their experiences and insights, we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the legal landscape in Brazil and the invaluable role played by in-house legal teams.
We would like to express our gratitude to all the in-house lawyers featured in this publication for their valuable contributions and for sharing their journeys with us. I am delighted to present to you this distinguished list of Brazil’s most exceptional, diligent, and celebrated in-house lawyers.
Francisco Faria e Castro | Lead researcher | GC Powerlist Series
The Legal 500, in partnership with Cescon Barrieu, held the long-awaited launch event of the GC Powerlist: Brazil 2023, on June 13th, at the Palácio Tangará, in São Paulo. Welcoming over 140 guests, the reception received the most renowned and diligent in-house lawyers in Brazil, celebrating their incredible and well-deserved achievement.
The Legal 500’s editorial lead for the GC Powerlist: Brazil 2023, Francisco Castro, started the ceremony with opening remarks, before introducing Cescon Barrieu’s founding partner, Maria Cristina Cescon, who brilliantly congratulated those selected. Speeches ended with guest speaker, and selectee, Lara Piau, executive legal director at Neoenergia, providing some remarks on the challenges and accomplishments of an in-house lawyer in Brazil, as well as highlighting the comeback of the GC Powerlist series to Brazil and the positive impact the publication has on the professional growth and recognition of those selected.
