Ireland
Supported by the Association of Corporate Counsel
General Counsel and Director of Legal Services | The Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg)
Associate General Counsel | Spencer Stuart International Ireland Ltd
Ireland Site Lead, International Corporate Director & Assistant General Counsel | Squarespace
Director & Associate General Counsel - Global Corporate | Meta Platforms Ireland Limited
General Counsel | Competitive Capabilities International (CCI)
General Counsel and Company Secretary | AmTrust International Underwriters DAC
Associate General Counsel and Data Protection/Privacy Officer | Shopify
Head of Legal Ireland, Large Corporates & Institutions (LC&I) | Danske Bank
Associate General Counsel and Head of Asset Servicing EMEA | Northern Trust Corporation
Head of Legal, Wealth & Insurance Legal Practice Head | New Ireland Assurance Company plc; Bank of Ireland Group
Legal Director | DePuy Ireland UC (part of the Johnson & Johnson group)
Deputy general counsel M&A, VP Development | Cement Roadstone Holding
Group Chief Legal & Regulatory Officer and Company Secretary | Ryanair
Assistant General Counsel – Ireland | Northern Trust Corporation
Senior Corporate Counsel and Head of Irish Product, Legal | Franklin Templeton
General Counsel and Company Secretary | Grafton Group plc
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.
