Italy 2025
Supported by the Association of Corporate Counsel
Legal and corporate affairs director | METINVEST TRAMETAL & FERRIERA VALSIDER – Italian rerollers of Metinvest Group
Group legal and corporate affairs manager | CAREL Industries
Legal director head of m&a and corporate transaction | MSC
Head of legal, corporate, regulatory and antitrust affairs | Enel Group
Head of legal, regulatory and compliance affairs | ENI Plenitude
Vice president corporate law and secretary of the board of directors | Recordati
Chief legal, corporate affairs, and compliance officer | Lavazza Group
Head of legal, compliance & corporate affairs | System Logistics
Legal director and regional compliance officer | Hilti Italia
It has been an honour and a privilege to research and produce this year’s edition of The Legal 500: GC Powerlist Italy. Each edition offers the opportunity to spotlight the exceptional calibre of in-house legal professionals in the country, and this year has been no exception. What made this experience especially rewarding was not only the depth of legal insight shared, but also the openness, curiosity, and strategic thinking demonstrated by the general counsel we interviewed. Their contributions elevated this publication and reaffirmed its relevance to Italy’s fast-evolving legal and business landscape.
This year, a number of key themes emerged — among them, the growing alignment between legal functions and broader business strategy, and the increasingly proactive role that general counsel are playing in responding to complex socioeconomic shifts.
Simone Davini LL.M., General Counsel Italy at Deutsche Bank, shared an important and sobering perspective on one of the most pressing macroeconomic challenges Italy faces today:
“Italy is facing a deep demographic crisis, being one of the countries with the lowest fertility rates in the world… The population has not grown naturally since 2006, and immigration has not offset the decline… These factors contribute to an aging population, raising serious concerns about the long-term sustainability of the social security and healthcare systems and about the labor market: in fact, the tax-payers population shrinks, while the demand for public health services and pensions grows; on top of that, the overall workforce goes down, tanking the internal rate of productivity and the global output of the Italian economic system.”
This kind of strategic, systems-level thinking highlights the evolving role of general counsel—not just as legal experts, but as business-critical advisors with a firm grasp on the wider context in which their companies operate.
Equally important in today’s corporate environment is a focus on culture and inclusion. Lodovico Bianchi Di Giulio, Group General Counsel – Head of Legal & Compliance at BIP Group, described his department’s approach to fostering equity and belonging:
“In BIP Group’s Legal & Compliance Department, diversity and inclusion are naturally embedded: two-thirds of our team members are women. We place strong emphasis on maintaining a healthy work-life balance, while also assigning each team member challenging objectives that promote both personal and professional growth… I dedicate significant time to listening to team members’ feedback, responding thoughtfully to their needs, and fostering a supportive and respectful working environment.”
These reflections are just two among many that demonstrate how Italy’s top in-house counsel are helping to reshape corporate priorities—balancing legal risk with long-term value, and guiding organisations through uncertainty with vision, empathy, and clarity.
Within this edition, you will find a wealth of insights across a range of topics, alongside detailed profiles of the talented legal leaders who make up the 2025 GC Powerlist: Italy. I would like to express my deepest thanks to everyone who took part. It is with great pride that I present this edition—celebrating the integrity, resilience, and leadership of Italy’s most outstanding in-house legal professionals.
Margherita Birri
Research Editor
Legal 500
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.
