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 26 March, Legal 500 partnered with Portuguese law firm PLMJ to bring its renewed sustainability‑focused conference series to Lisbon with the ESG Forum: Portugal 2026. The half‑day event gathered senior leaders from the legal, financial, energy and sustainability spheres for a concentrated programme hosted at PLMJ’s offices. Throughout the sessions, speakers explored the regulatory, governance and enforcement forces reshaping ESG strategy in Portugal, offering a clear cross‑sector perspective on how organisations are adapting to an increasingly complex and fast‑moving landscape.
The event opened with some welcome remarks from Legal 500 editor Francisco Castro, who emphasised the value of events that bring the in‑house community together to learn, exchange experiences and build meaningful professional networks. In his welcome address, he highlighted the growing complexity of ESG obligations across Europe and the increasing pressure on organisations to adopt integrated, business‑wide approaches to compliance, risk management and strategic planning. By underscoring the need for practical, grounded discussion rather than abstract theory, he set the tone for a programme designed to deliver actionable insight and foster collaboration among practitioners navigating a rapidly evolving ESG landscape.
Followed an opening brief delivered by PLMJ’s Managing Partner, Bruno Ferreira, who provided a concise yet comprehensive overview of the ESG priorities defining Portugal in 2026. He outlined the expanding influence of EU regulatory frameworks on corporate reporting, due diligence and governance, noting how these requirements are reshaping expectations around data quality, transparency and accountability. His remarks positioned ESG not as a peripheral concern but as a central driver of corporate behaviour, capital flows and long‑term competitiveness in the Portuguese market.
The first panel, moderated by João Marques Mendes, Partner at PLMJ and joined by Cláudia Teixeira de Almeida of Banco BPI, Nuno Moraes Bastos of GALP and Diogo Graça of REN, explored how corporate governance and sustainable finance are shaping Portugal’s energy transition. The discussion examined how boards and executive teams are adapting oversight structures to manage transition‑related risks and how legal, compliance, sustainability and procurement functions are increasingly intertwined in project governance. Panellists described the growing influence of financing structures on project execution, noting that lenders’ expectations around ESG metrics, contractor performance and transparency now shape governance decisions from the earliest stages. They also addressed the operational constraints that continue to challenge Portugal’s transition ambitions, including permitting timelines, grid capacity limitations and delivery risk. While acknowledging the complexity of EU‑level frameworks, speakers emphasised that these standards also present strategic opportunities to harmonise practices, unlock investment and strengthen Portugal’s competitive position in the energy transition.
Following a short break, the second panel turned to litigation, liability and the emerging enforcement era surrounding sustainability claims. Moderated by Raquel Azevedo, Partner at PLMJ and featuring contributions from Carla Góis Coelho of PLMJ, Carlos Martins Ferreira of Jerónimo Martins, Filipa Rodrigues Carmona of Caixa Geral de Depósitos and Céline da Graça Pires of NOVA, the session examined the rapid rise of ESG‑driven disputes, investigations and regulatory actions. Panellists discussed the typical trigger points for scrutiny, ranging from sustainability reports and corporate websites to marketing materials and investor presentations, and highlighted how these touchpoints are increasingly tested by regulators, competitors, consumers and NGOs. They analysed recent case law developments and their implications for Portuguese organisations, noting the emergence of more stringent evidentiary standards around disclosures and due‑diligence obligations. The panel concluded that sustainability claims can no longer be treated as aspirational messaging; they now carry the weight of binding legal obligations, requiring more rigorous internal validation and cross‑functional coordination.
The forum concluded with closing remarks from Francisco Castro, after which attendees were invited to continue their conversations over a light lunch, providing a relaxed setting to deepen connections and reflect on the themes explored throughout the morning.
Legal 500 extends its thanks to PLMJ for its collaboration in bringing this conference format to Portugal’s in‑house legal community. The team looks forward to returning soon for the launch event of this year’s GC Powerlist: Portugal.
