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 July 1st, Legal 500 unveiled the fourth edition of the GC Powerlist: Portugal 2026, in partnership with PLMJ. Hosted once again on the rooftop terrace of the firm’s Lisbon office under a blazing summer sun, the event brought together many of Portugal’s most accomplished in-house lawyers to celebrate this distinguished community of legal leaders.
Returning to its individual-focused format, this year’s edition marked the reintroduction of the Rising Stars category, recognising some of the country’s most promising emerging in-house counsel. It also saw the world debut of the Transnational Leaders category, highlighting general counsel whose leadership and influence extend beyond national borders and whose responsibilities span multiple jurisdictions.
The evening commenced with a welcome address from Legal 500’s editorial lead Francisco Castro, who emphasised the importance of continuously evolving the publication to reflect the realities of Portugal’s in-house legal market. He highlighted the rigorous research and selection process behind the GC Powerlist series and congratulated the honourees for their outstanding contributions to the profession and the organisations they serve.
Following this introduction, Bruno Ferreira, Managing Partner of PLMJ, took to the stage to congratulate those recognised in this year’s edition. In his remarks, he underscored the increasingly strategic role of in-house counsel in supporting business growth, navigating complexity, and driving legal excellence. He also reflected on the transformative impact that AI is having on the legal function and the opportunities it presents for corporate legal teams.
Concluding the formal proceedings, Alexandra Reis, Senior Counsel at Tabaqueira and a recipient in the inaugural Transnational Leaders category, shared a few reflections on the significance of recognising in-house lawyers and the value of fostering a strong, connected legal community. Drawing on her own experiences, she spoke about the importance of networking, knowledge-sharing and celebrating a profession whose contributions often take place behind the scenes.
The launch of the GC Powerlist: Portugal 2026 proved to be a fitting celebration of the country’s leading in-house legal talent. The evening showcased the depth, expertise, and influence of Portugal’s corporate counsel community while reaffirming Legal 500’s commitment to recognising and championing its achievements. We extend our sincere thanks to all those who participated in this year’s research process, and to PLMJ for once again partnering with Legal 500 to provide a platform that honours these exceptional legal professionals.
