Malaysia 2026
Supported by the Association of Corporate Counsel
Executive vice president, regional group legal, corporate and secretarial affairs | Asahi Holdings
Head of legal and data protection officer (APAC) | Noventiq Holdings
Group head of legal, governance and compliance | Hyundai Motor Malaysia & Hyundai Manufacturing Malaysia
Managing director, legal operations, Asia Pacific Middle East and Africa | FedEx
Legal manager, indirect procurement AMEA | Kellogg Company
Legal manager and company secretary | Carlsberg Brewery Malaysia
Head Legal, Group Global Banking, and Regional Head, Legal | Maybank Investment Bank
Legal and compliance director and company secretary | Carlsberg Malaysia
Senior general manager, legal, corporate secretarial and compliance | Malaysia Marine & Heavy Engineering Holdings
Associate general counsel - global labour and employment APAC | JABIL
Director of legal affairs and general counsel | Network Innovations
It is a great honour for Legal 500 to bring the second Malaysia-only edition to life. As one of the most forward-looking Southeast Asian legal hubs, Malaysia is home to some of the legal teams of the companies that are driving change in the region. As our previous research into the Southeast Asian in-house legal market gave us a great insight into high-ranking in-house legal leaders in Malaysia, this powerlist edition allowed us to get a deeper insight into the intricacies of the in-house legal community of this fast-growing market.
Since our last research on Malaysia’s in-house legal market individually, in 2023, the evolution of the in-house legal practice has been remarkable. Throughout your interviews, your focus on AI and automatization, regulatory compliance, digital transformation, specialised advisory services, and Malaysia’s growth in the ASEAN trade market has drawn a very innovative and forward-looking picture of the Malaysian in-house legal community.
From the Legal 500 team, a warm congratulations to all the highlighted in-house senior legal talent in this last edition of the GC Powerlist: Malaysia 2026. Thank you for your openness and willingness to share with us your insights on the in-house legal market in the country. We look forward to keeping in touch with and learn from you in the future!
Carmen Godoy Martin
Editor- Corporate Counsel
Legal 500
On 1 September, Legal 500 unveiled the third edition of the GC Powerlist: East Africa, in partnership with leading African law firm ENS. Hosted at the Sankara Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya, the event brought together many of the region’s most accomplished in-house lawyers to celebrate a distinguished community of legal leaders shaping the future of business across East Africa.
The evening opened with welcoming remarks from Giulio Tomassi Galanti, Business Development Manager at Legal 500, who highlighted the importance of recognising the dynamic growth and increasing sophistication of the East African legal market. He also reflected on the rigorous research and selection process behind the GC Powerlist series, congratulating this year’s honourees for their exceptional contributions to both the legal profession and the organisations they serve.
Following this introduction, Mahesh Acharya, Managing Partner of ENS Kenya, addressed the audience to commend the individuals recognised in the 2026 edition.
The launch of the GC Powerlist: East Africa 2026 proved a fitting celebration of the region’s leading in-house legal talent. The evening showcased the depth of expertise, influence, and innovation within East Africa’s corporate counsel community, while reaffirming Legal 500’s commitment to recognising and championing its achievements. We extend our sincere thanks to everyone who contributed to this year’s research process and to ENS for once again partnering with Legal 500 to provide a platform that honours these outstanding legal professionals.
On Thursday, 3 September, Legal 500 will host the second launch event celebrating the GC Powerlist: East Africa 2026 at the Sheraton Hotel in Kampala, Uganda. Building on the success of the Nairobi launch, the event will bring together many of region’s most accomplished in-house counsel and senior legal leaders to recognise their achievements and celebrate the continued growth and influence of the region’s corporate legal community.
