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 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.
