East Africa 2025
Supported by the Association of Corporate Counsel
Senior Legal Manager, Africa Operation Unit | Coca-Cola Central East and West Africa
Company Secretary, and General Manager-Legal Affairs | Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen)
Head, legal, transaction banking, Africa & Middle East | Standard Chartered Bank Kenya
Team Leader, legal, governance, risk and compliance | Zamara Actuaries, Administrators and Consultants
Head of legal, Kenya and East Africa Cluster | Standard Chartered Bank
East Market Area General Counsel | PricewaterhouseCoopers
Senior legal counsel | Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT
Head of legal, wealth, retail banking Kenya and East Africa | Standard Chartered Bank Kenya
Chief Legal, Regulatory, and Corporate Governance Officer | Safaricom Ethiopia
Associate General Counsel | Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank
Director legal services/ regulatory compliance and company secretary | Kenya Airways
Corporation Secretary & Director, Legal Services | Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA)
Executive Director, Africa | International Council of Beverages Associations (ICBA)
Regional Head, Legal & Company Secretariat- East Africa | Interswitch East Africa (Kenya)
Head of Legal and Regulatory Affairs/Company Secretary | ATC Uganda
Head of Legal East, Central & Southern Africa | Network International
Head of legal services & company secretary | Tanzania Mortgage Refinance Company
Senior Manager - head of legal | MTC Trust & Corporate Services
Head, Legal, Client Coverage, Corporate and Investment Banking | Standard Chartered Bank Kenya
Company Secretary & Head Legal and compliance | Jubilee Allianz General Insurance Company
Head of corporate & legal affairs | Industrial Promotion Services (Kenya)
General Manager, Corporate Services/ Company Secretary | MTN Rwandacell
Head of Legal and Corporate Affairs – Africa | Inchcape
General counsel and chief compliance officer | Trinity Metals Group
Group Vice President, Deputy Managing Director, and General Counsel | Trade and Development Bank Group - TDB Group
Head of Legal, compliance and regulatory affairs | Ruzizi III Energy
Manager, Litigation and Regulatory Affairs | Ethiopian Airlines
Head of Regulatory and Public Policy | Safaricom
Fred is a commercially savvy, pragmatic, and solutions-driven leader with over 20 years of experience spanning both corporate and private legal practice. He currently serves as Director, Regulatory Affairs and...
Company Secretary & Legal Advisor | Brassieres et Limonderies du Burundi Brarudi
Legal and compliance manager, company secretary | Uganda Securities Exchange
Regional general counsel and company secretary | Africa Global Logistics
East and West Africa Region - Head of legal and regulatory affairs | Liquid Intelligent Technologies
Head legal and company secretary | UAP Old Mutual Insurance Uganda and Old Mutual Investment Group Uganda (OMIG)
Legal Manager | Victoria Commercial Bank
Ruth Muasya is an accomplished legal professional with over 12 years of experience in corporate and commercial law, banking and finance, regulatory compliance and corporate governance. She currently serves as...
Country Head of legal and compliance & company secretary | Standard Chartered Bank, Tanzania
It is with great pride that we present the second edition of the Legal 500 GC Powerlist: East Africa. Following the success of our inaugural edition, we have once again embarked on an extensive research initiative to spotlight the region’s most accomplished general counsel and senior in-house lawyers.
This year’s Powerlist reflects a legal landscape that is both vibrant and transformative. Across East Africa, general counsel are not only protecting their organisations but also steering them into new frontiers. Our research revealed that in-house lawyers are increasingly recognised as strategic partners, actively contributing to organisational growth and decision-making. As Daniel Wandera, group head of legal at Ramco Group, told us, “Legal is now seen as a value enabler, not just a compliance function.”
Equally, we found counsel adapting to an environment of rapid change, navigating digital disruption, ESG compliance, cross-border deals, and the fast-moving integration of AI into business processes. As Peris Wairimu Chege, head of legal at I&M Bank, observed, “Companies should adopt AI and integrate legal tech, and legal teams should be equipped to advise on AI risks.”
Beyond their legal expertise, the individuals recognised in this year’s edition demonstrate remarkable leadership, collaboration, and influence. They are not only trusted advisers but also business enablers and industry shapers. Patricia Nyokabi Mbugua of Standard Chartered Bank reflected on this evolution, noting, “This ‘get-in-early’ approach has earned us the reputation of being business enablers.”
Taken together, these stories show us that East Africa’s general counsel community is driving change far beyond the legal department. They are shaping business strategy, guiding innovation, and influencing society at large. We are honoured to recognise these outstanding professionals whose insight, resilience, and leadership continue to inspire. Their work not only strengthens their organisations but also builds the foundations of a robust in-house legal culture across East Africa. A special thanks to our sponsor ENSAfrica who has contributed to making this edition a reality. Congratulations to all listed in the GC Powerlist East Africa 2025!
Melissa Yebisi
Editor
Legal 500
On Tuesday, Legal 500 had the pleasure of welcoming this year’s cohort to the GC Powerlist Spain 2026 launch event in Madrid: an evening celebrating the country’s in-house excellence shaping the legal landscape of today and tomorrow.
The evening, hosted in partnership with DLA Piper, brought together at Club Matador some of the most renowned names in the Spanish in-house legal market. This year’s reception welcomed senior in-house professionals from across industries, representing some of the most prominent companies in the country.
Carmen Godoy, lead editor of this edition of the GC Powerlist: Spain at The Legal 500, opened the evening by addressing more than 100 corporate legal professionals in attendance. In her remarks, Godoy highlighted how the research revealed Spain’s in-house legal community to be increasingly strategic and forward-looking. General counsel are evolving into key business partners, embracing innovation with pragmatism while providing resilience and stability in uncertain environments. With a strong focus on governance, compliance, sustainability, and leadership, these findings reflect a community that is strategic, innovative, and deeply human.
Following Godoy, Francisco Cerezo and César Herrero, managing partners of DLA Piper and hosts of the evening, addressed the audience, highlighting the importance of promoting spaces for exchange and recognition within the in-house legal community shaping modern business.
After their remarks, Carmen Godoy and David Freeman, on behalf of The Legal 500, proceeded with the certificate ceremony, during which each Powerlister was invited to the stage to collect their certificate.
This year’s GC Powerlist event in Madrid served as an excellent opportunity for awardees to connect and exchange reflections with their professional peers and the Legal 500 team.
On behalf of the entire team at The Legal 500, we extend our warmest congratulations to all those included in this edition of the GC Powerlist: Spain. You stand as an example of the talent, leadership, and vision driving the evolution of the general counsel role in the country.
We would also like to take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude to DLA Piper, our sponsor, for joining us in recognising the exceptional talent driving progress across Spain’s legal profession. And, of course, to each of the honourees who shared their time and insights with us. It has been a privilege to share your stories and celebrate the enduring impact you make every day.
