Luxembourg 2025
Supported by the Association of Corporate Counsel
Head of legal, VP&C | Vodafone, Procurement and Connectivity
General counsel and regulatory affairs director, EMEA and APAC | Experian
Head of legal and compliance | H2O Partners Luxembourg
Head of legal funds group - executive committee | Franklin Templeton International Services
Director, Head of Legal - Fund Services | BDO
Conducting Officer – Head of Legal and Compliance | Ocorian Luxembourg
Partner, Chief Legal and Compliance Officer, Executive Partner | Aermont Capital
Managing partner, general counsel, head of legal and compliance | Optimum Asset Management
Managing Director - Tax & Fund Administration team leader | Tristan Capital Partners
Managing director, legal an dompliance | Shaftesbury Asset Management
Deputy general counsel, international advisory services | CBRE
Chief of risk, legal and compliance and member of senior management committee | Idi Emerging Markets Partners
Director, EMEA treasury – corporate and shared services | Becton & Dickinson Company
Head of legal | Intesa Sanpaolo Wealth Management
General counsel and vice president EMEA | Gates Corporation
Head of Risk and Compliance & Conducting Officer | Mindful Capital Partners
Secretary general and general counsel | European Investment Fund (EIF)
Group executive vice president, global general counsel and chief compliance officer, managing director | Docler Holding Luxembourg
Managing Director, Head of Legal & Tax | JAB Holding Company
Chairman of Board & Risk and Compliance Officer | Alpha Group
Managing Director, Chief Compliance Officer & Member of the Corporate Functions Team | Astorg
General counsel, head of legal | KPMG Luxembourg
Chief Legal Officer - Waste Management Solutions | Xeon International Private Equity
It has once again been an absolute pleasure to spotlight the exceptional in-house legal talent that Luxembourg has to offer in the 2025 edition of the GC Powerlist: Luxembourg. Building on the success of our inaugural edition, this year’s publication continues to celebrate the insightful, forward-thinking, and highly skilled lawyers who are shaping the legal and business landscape of this dynamic country at the very heart of the European business ecosystem.
Interviewing this year’s cohort of outstanding legal professionals was both an honor and an inspiration. Their deep expertise, strategic acumen, and unwavering dedication to excellence are not only impressive, but vital to the continued success of the organisations they serve.
This edition is a tribute to their remarkable contributions—from navigating complex cross-border matters and leading high-stakes transactions, to pioneering innovative legal solutions, including the integration of emerging technologies such as AI. Their stories reflect a dynamic profession that is constantly evolving, and they exemplify the calibre of counsel that Luxembourg continues to foster – especially at a time when external challenges are more numerous and complex than at any other time in recent history.
Alongside Loyens & Loeff Luxembourg, Legal 500 is proud to share their achievements and insights, and we hope this edition continues to inspire the wider legal and business community, both within Luxembourg and beyond.
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.
