France 2024
Supported by the Association of Corporate Counsel
Executive Vice-President for Legal, and General Counsel | MicroportÂ
Legal Director and Compliance Officer for Western Europe  | Colgate-Palmolive
Directeur Juridique, Conformité et Risques – Secrétaire du Conseil d’Administration / Group General Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer – Company Secretary | Colas
General Counsel and Member of the Executive Board in charge of legal, compliance, information security and regulatory affairs | Natixis
General Counsel and Head of Public Affairs, Corporate Secretary and UK Chairman; Member of the Airbus Executive Committee | Airbus SE
Global Head of Competition Law & General Counsel France | ArcelorMittal 
General counsel, EMEA, lead attorney for IP/IT contracts and global vendors | IPSOS
Group general counsel and secretary of the board of directors – member of the executive committee | Vallourec
Senior Director for Legal Affairs, Europe | Ivanhoe Cambridge
GC/Executive Director Legal, Compliance, Audit Risks, Professional Interaction excellence | Roche
Chief legal officer of renewables global business unit of ENGIE VP Excom member of global energy management and supply (in charge of legal, ethics and compliance) | ENGIE
Senior Legal Manager - Real Estate & Infrastructure, EMEA | EQUINIX
General Counsel / Directeur Juridique Groupe | TSG Solutions
SVP General Counsel/ I&C Officer France & Northen Europe | The Adecco Group
Executive vice president, legal affairs and internal audit | Bureau Veritas Group
Directeur général juridique, conformité | Nestlé France
Group general counsel | LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton
SVP Corporate Legal Affairs | Airbus
Edouard Eltvedt, SVP Corporate Legal Affairs at Airbus, has over 20 years of experience in international business law, both in law firms and in house. He spent ten years working...
Group VP Legal - Litigation& Disputes Resolution | Thales
Group Director Of Legal Affairs, and President of AFJE | LACTALIS
General counsel - risk, compliance and operations | Schindler
Group General Counsel & Corporate Secretary | Séché Environnement
Vice president, group general counsel and company secretary | Dassault Systemes
Vice-président exécutif pour les affaires juridiques et Directeur juridique | Tetra Pak
Vice President and General Counsel France | Schneider Electric
Directeur des affaires juridiques holding Total SA | Total Exploration & Production
Deputy General Counsel in charge of compliance and organisation | SNCF Réseau
On behalf of The Legal 500, I am delighted and honoured to present the GC Powerlist: France 2024.
This edition celebrates the exceptional general counsel and in–house lawyers who continue to make significant contributions in one of the region’s most complex and influential legal markets. Our research has given us the privilege of engaging with some of France’s finest legal professionals, uncovering their innovative strategies, strong leadership, and commitment to excellence.
In a rapidly changing market with complex regulations, France’s general counsel are redefining their roles. They are no longer confined to traditional legal tasks but play a vital part in shaping their companies’ strategies, building resilience, and managing challenges such as economic uncertainty, technological advances, and evolving regulations. The professionals featured in this year’s Powerlist are distinguished not just by their legal expertise but by their ability to guide their organisations through an era of significant change.
The GC Powerlist: France 2024 is dedicated to those driving business success, embracing innovation, and upholding the highest standards of integrity. From leading digital transformation and strengthening governance to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion, these general counsel are setting new benchmarks for legal leadership. Alice Flacco, Executive vice-president legal, and general xounsel at Microport puts it: ‘Operating amid instability is not always easy, but these are moments in which opportunities emerge. Seeing our collective efforts pay off reinforces my belief that adaptability and open communication turn crises into pathways for progress. My approach focuses on building supportive relationships across the organisation. By fostering a culture of accessibility and trust, we encourage the legal team to be involved from the outset of any initiative. This early engagement helps us to be present, ask thoughtful questions, anticipate potential risks, and collaboratively develop solutions that make business smoother and safer.’
The GC Powerlist: France 2024 celebrates the remarkable achievements of these legal trailblazers. We are proud to share their stories and insights, showcasing their role in shaping the future of legal practice in France.
Allan Cohen – Senior Research Editor
On 1 September, Legal 500 unveiled the third edition of the GC Powerlist: East Africa, in partnership with leading African law firm ENS. Hosted at the Sankara Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya, the event brought together many of the region’s most accomplished in-house lawyers to celebrate a distinguished community of legal leaders shaping the future of business across East Africa.
The evening opened with welcoming remarks from Giulio Tomassi Galanti, Business Development Manager at Legal 500, who highlighted the importance of recognising the dynamic growth and increasing sophistication of the East African legal market. He also reflected on the rigorous research and selection process behind the GC Powerlist series, congratulating this year’s honourees for their exceptional contributions to both the legal profession and the organisations they serve.
Following this introduction, Mahesh Acharya, Managing Partner of ENS Kenya, addressed the audience to commend the individuals recognised in the 2026 edition.
The launch of the GC Powerlist: East Africa 2026 proved a fitting celebration of the region’s leading in-house legal talent. The evening showcased the depth of expertise, influence, and innovation within East Africa’s corporate counsel community, while reaffirming Legal 500’s commitment to recognising and championing its achievements. We extend our sincere thanks to everyone who contributed to this year’s research process and to ENS for once again partnering with Legal 500 to provide a platform that honours these outstanding legal professionals.
On Thursday, 3 September, Legal 500 will host the second launch event celebrating the GC Powerlist: East Africa 2026 at the Sheraton Hotel in Kampala, Uganda. Building on the success of the Nairobi launch, the event will bring together many of region’s most accomplished in-house counsel and senior legal leaders to recognise their achievements and celebrate the continued growth and influence of the region’s corporate legal community.
