Japan 2024
Supported by the Association of Corporate Counsel
Executive officer, head of general affairs and legal | Sumitomo Corporation
Director, member of the board, executive officer, group general counsel | Panasonic Holdings Corporation
Head of Japan/JPBU ethics and compliance, global ethics and compliance | Takeda Pharmaceutical Company
Chief legal and risk officer, executive general manager of compliance and information security division | Benesse Holdings
Legal director (Johnson & Johnson MedTech Japan & South East Asia) | Johnson & Johnson
Chief legal officer, executive officer | The Gibraltar Life Insurance Company
Executive officer, general counsel, managing director | Citigroup Global Markets Japan
Director of the corporate planning and legal department | Fukuoka SoftBank HAWKS Corporation
Group legal and compliance director | LVMH Moët Hennessy-Louis Vuitton Japan
Senior executive officer and general manager of legal division | Nitori Holdings
Director, legal and compliance | Nippon Otis Elevator Company
Corporate executive officer, EVP and general counsel | Fujitsu
General manager, group governance, legal and compliance unit | Tokyo Electron
Executive officer, general manager, legal division | ITOCHU Corporation
General manager, legal and intellectual property | Bandai Namco Entertainment
Compliance manager and legal manager in charge of consumer health | Bayer
Rising Star
Managing director of legal and intellectual property division | SEGA Sammy Holdings
Managing director and market unit contracting lead, legal | Accenture
Rising Star
Representative executive officer and general counsel | Unilever Japan Holdings
Chief legal and compliance officer and executive vice president | LIXIL
Corporate officer, group chief legal officer and group compliance officer | SoftBank Group
General manager, legal department, administration headquarters | Konoike Construction
Director, member of the board and chief legal officer | Funds, Inc.
Rising Star
Executive officer in charge of legal, intellectual property and government relations | SECOM
Executive managing officer, general counsel and executive committee member | Mitsui & Co.
Director, executive officer and head of legal Japan | Societe Generale Securities Japan
Chief risk management officer, general manager of legal and risk management department | freee
Member of the Board of Novo Nordisk Pharma Ltd., General Counsel and VP Legal, Ethics & Compliance | Novo Nordisk
Corporate vice president and general manager of legal division | FUJIFILM Holdings
Chief legal officer, SaaS business and head of risk management | Uzabase
Rising Star
Managing executive officer, corporate communications division | ITOCHU
Corporate officer, general manager of intellectual property, legal and compliance | Gunze
Executive vice president, legal and intellectual property | Chugai Pharmaceutical
Senior vice president, legal, compliance and privacy | Sony Group Corporation
Vice president, deputy head of global legal | Fujitsu
Rising Star
Vice president, general counsel, chief compliance officer, intellectual property, internal control | Eisai
General manager, legal department, legal and corporate affairs division | Chiyoda Corporation
Department manager, legal department, legal and intellectual property division | Nikon
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.
