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
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.
