Germany 2025
Supported by the Association of Corporate Counsel
General counsel, chief compliance officer and chief people officer | Nikon SLM Solutions
Head of regulatory, IT and data privacy law | Aachener Grundvermögen
Rising Star
General counsel DACH, Nordics, CEE | Jones Lang LaSalle
General counsel and managing director | DDB Germany Group of Companies
General counsel, head of legal, chief compliance officer and proxy holder | Mainova
Head of legal (vice president) | Jack Wolfskin Ausrüstung für Draussen
Assistant general counsel - catalyst technologies | Johnson Matthey
Chief legal officer and chief procurement officer (ad interim) | BVG
Senior legal director - Germany, A, CH, BeNeLuX, CEE, UK&IE, Nordics | Google
Senior associate vice president, principal legal counsel at Group Corporate and Commercial Legal | Deutsche Börse
Rising Star
Group general counsel and chief compliance officer | Securing Energy for Europe - SEFE
Group general counsel - senior vice president legal and audit | HARIBO Holding
Vice president legal, ethics, compliance and quality | Novo Nordisk Pharma
Group general counsel, senior vice president legal and chief compliance officer | HUGO BOSS
General Counsel, head of legal and group compliance, managing director | FMS Wertmanagement
General counsel, head of insurance and chief compliance officer | Progroup
General counsel and chief compliance officer | TAKKT AG
Rising Star
General counsel, corporate secretary and compliance officer | Toshiba Railway Europe
Group general counsel and chief compliance officer | Leica Camera
Group general counsel and chief legal officer | Unternehmensgruppe Theo Müller
In-house counsel | Stadtbahn Entwicklung und Verkehrsinfrastrukturprojekte
Rising Star
General counsel and CCO, head of legal and corporate governance | Hyundai Motor Europe Regional
Director legal and compliance | Condor Flugdienst
Head of legal and compliance Central Europe | Atos Information Technology
Head of legal, compliance and data protection | Burger King Deutschland
Head of legal AFFAIRS | Konica Minolta Business Solutions Deutschland
Head of legal continental Europe | PGIM Real Estate Germany
Head of global compliance and integrity animal health | Boehringer Ingelheim Corporate Center
Group general counsel, head of legal and governance Germany and international | Kaufland
Senior contact counsel | McKinsey
Rising Star
Associate general counsel | McKinsey & Company
General counsel and head of compliance | Hottinger Brüel & Kjaer
Vice president legal and corporate compliance, general counsel | Vetter Pharma-Fertigung
General counsel and vice president people and culture | WorkMotion Software
In-house counsel | Die Autobahn des Bundes, Niederlassung West
Rising Star
Group Vice President Legal, Audit and Data Protection | Amadeus FiRe AG
Vice President Global Field Legal Regional General Counsel Middle and Eastern Europe Head of Legal Department SAP Deutschland SE & Co.KG | SAP Deutschland SE & Co.KG
Senior legal counsel | Carrier Global Corporation
Rising Star
Commercial and trademark attorney | W. L. Gore & Associates
Rising Star
It’s been a true honour to work on the GC Powerlist Germany 2025 which celebrates the outstanding achievements of in-house legal professionals across a broad spectrum of industries in Germany. As part of our prestigious GC Powerlist series, The Legal 500 is proud to once again highlight the strength and expertise of the German in-house legal market. This publication showcases the remarkable abilities of legal professionals who are navigating complex regulatory environments while strategically supporting their businesses.
In an era of rapid technological advancements, regulatory shifts, and economic fluctuations, these legal leaders continuously demonstrate innovation, adaptability, and resilience. They are not only ensuring compliance and risk mitigation but also actively shaping corporate strategies.
The influence of these legal professionals extends far beyond Germany. Many play a critical role in facilitating their companies’ expansion across Europe and into global markets, expertly navigating diverse legal frameworks and cross-border challenges. Their ability to blend legal acumen with commercial insight makes them indispensable players in today’s interconnected business landscape.
Beyond their corporate responsibilities, many of the professionals featured in this edition are dedicated to fostering legal education, mentoring emerging talent, and driving initiatives that promote diversity and inclusion within the profession. Such contributions reflect the profound and lasting impact these legal leaders have both within and beyond their organisations.
It has been our privilege to keep researching and engaging with this dynamic market. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the distinguished professionals featured in the GC Powerlist Germany 2025. Your dedication and expertise set a benchmark for excellence in the global in-house legal community, and we are delighted to celebrate your success.
Sara Maggi Deputy Editor – The Legal 500 GC Powerlist Series
Margherita Birri Research Editor
The 2025 edition of the GC Powerlist Colombia, held at the elegant Casa Medina in Bogotá, brought together some of the most influential general counsel and in-house legal leaders from across the country and region. The event highlighted how Colombian legal departments are evolving to meet the demands of an increasingly complex, tech-driven, and sustainability-conscious business environment. Key themes throughout the day included the strategic adoption of AI and legal tech, lean but agile team structures, shifting approaches to external counsel, and a strong commitment to ESG and inclusive leadership.
One of the most prominent discussion points was the integration of legal technology, particularly AI and large language models, into in-house legal work. Across companies like Uber, Unilever, Takeda, and GFT, there is strong momentum around the use of AI tools for contract lifecycle management—ranging from clause extraction and risk flagging to version control and automated drafting. However, rather than viewing AI as a replacement for legal professionals, most GCs described these technologies as strategic enablers that allow their teams to focus on higher-impact work. Laura Jaramillo Franco of Bayer provided one of the most detailed insights into how her team has deliberately structured their AI use. She emphasised that the value lies not in using AI for its own sake, but in tailoring each tool to specific use cases that align with legal risk standards and data protection policies. Tools such as Harvey, myGenAssist, Claude, Notebook, ChatGPT, Gemini, and Gamma are all part of Bayer’s ecosystem—each selected and implemented with clear purpose and governance.
Legal design was another emerging theme, with institutions like Scotiabank and Unilever investing in simplifying legal documents to make them more accessible to non-legal stakeholders. This is especially relevant in consumer-facing sectors where clear communication builds trust and mitigates risk. There is also growing interest in predictive analytics for litigation and compliance risk mapping, as legal departments seek more proactive ways to support business decisions.
Despite the growing influence of technology, staffing models remain lean. Most legal departments consist of teams ranging from three to nine professionals. However, size is no longer the defining factor of effectiveness. Instead, agility, business-embeddedness, and cross-functional collaboration are key. General counsel from companies such as Scotiabank, Cargill highlighted the increasing involvement of legal leaders in crisis management and business strategy, often working side by side with finance and communications teams. Upskilling, especially in technology and leadership, is an area of active investment, with Uber, for instance, noting formal programs aimed at equipping in-house lawyers for this evolving role.
The event also revealed a shift in the use of external counsel. In-house teams are now more confident in handling complex matters internally, including regulatory strategy, litigation, and M&A. Companies such as SierraCol and Bancolombia highlighted that while law firms remain essential, engagements are becoming more selective and strategic. The focus has moved from transactional work to long-term partnerships that add specialized value or support cross-border challenges.
Sustainability and ESG responsibilities continue to expand within legal departments. Legal leaders are increasingly central to ensuring compliance with ESG frameworks, advising on disclosures, and shaping product strategies aligned with social impact. Viviana Prada Rey of Grupo Cibest shared how her legal team plays a key role in advancing the company’s mission to contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. From advising on sustainable finance initiatives to monitoring ESG-related regulatory developments in both Colombia and the United States, the legal function has become instrumental in driving long-term impact.
Another area of strong focus was crisis resilience. Legal teams are leading scenario planning and designing compliance playbooks, ensuring they are prepared for unexpected events. Leadership and inclusion also featured prominently. Companies are integrating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) into their legal team strategies. Juliana Hoyos Flórez, General Counsel of SierraCol, discussed the company’s ALMA program (Academia de Liderazgo para Mujeres de Alto Impacto), which has empowered over 180 women across the company and community with leadership skills and is expected to reach 300 by 2026.
In conclusion, the GC Powerlist Colombia 2025 was a testament to the transformation of the legal profession in the region. Far from being reactive support functions, today’s legal departments are strategic, tech-savvy, socially conscious, and embedded at the heart of business decision-making. As demonstrated once again, Colombia’s in-house legal leaders are not just keeping pace with global trends—they are helping define them.
