Miami 2026
Supported by the Association of Corporate Counsel
General Counsel & Corporate Secretary, and Chief Corporate Officer | Sanitas USA
Executive vice president, co-general counsel | TelevisaUnivision
Vice president & associate counsel - compliance and ethics | Southern Glazer's Wines and Spirits
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary | Fresh Del Monte Produce
Legal Head for the Caribbean & Central America Cluster, and Senior Counsel of Banking & International | Citibank
Executive Director and Associate General Counsel, LATAM | Ingram Micro Holding
Managing Director Regional Counsel | Federal Express Corporation
Head of Legal, Wealth Americas Banking & Lending;Â Director, Associate General Counsel | Citigroup
Executive Vice- President, Chief Legal and Compliance Officer | Millicom International
Executive vice president, general counsel & Chief compliance technology | Cirion Technologies Solutions
Associate general counsel - Product SSA Latam | Airbnb
Vice president & Associate general counsel, global M&A, Americas | Diageo
Chief Administrative Officer, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary | InspereX
Executive Vice President and General Counsel | Burger King Corporation
Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary | FlexGen
Executive Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel | Ingram Micro Holding
Vice President and Regional General Counsel - Latin America and Caribbean | SAP
Vice President - Legal Affairs, Export Compliance Officer and Empowered Official | Barfield
Executive Vice President and General Counsel | Cisneros Group of Companies
Associate General Counsel | Restaurant Brands International
General Counsel, Legal & Compliance, Latin America & Canada | Boston Scientific
Managing General Counsel for the Americas | ACS Infrastructure
General Counsel, North America, Caribbean & Asia | LATAM Airlines Group
Senior Vice President and chief legal officer | GSI Management
SVP, Chief counsel, North America | Mondelēz International
Legal director, payments and risks (Americas) | Uber Technologies
Senior Director, Assistant General Counsel | Miami Dolphins and Hard Rock Stadium
Vice president, customs & regulatory affairs, DHL Express Americas | DHL Express
Senior Vice President, general counsel | Miami Dolphins, Hard Rock Stadium, F1 Miami Grand Prix
Senior VP, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary | AerSale
SVP, Chief Legal Officer & Secretary | Royal Caribbean Group
Regional General counsel, Latin America & Carribbean | Bacardi
Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Board Secretary | Ryder System
On behalf of Legal 500, I am delighted to introduce the GC Powerlist: Miami 2026.
This edition highlights the general counsel and in-house legal teams who play a crucial role in shaping Miami’s corporate and legal landscape. Through our research, we spoke with professionals who not only provide expert legal guidance but also influence strategy, drive transformation, and support business growth.
We were thrilled to receive a strong volume of nominations from Miami-based law firms and in-house teams, reflecting the city’s dynamic and highly engaged legal community. Across Miami, general counsel are increasingly moving beyond traditional advisory roles. They are central to navigating complex and evolving regulatory frameworks, enabling innovation, supporting governance and compliance priorities, and guiding their organisations through periods of rapid change. The GC Powerlist: Miami 2026 celebrates those who combine deep legal expertise with leadership, vision, and tangible impact.
Managing uncertainty and building resilience is a common theme. As Matias Hercovich explains:
‘Managing legal aspects during periods of instability or crisis requires a balance between protecting the organisation’s interests and preserving its human capital. After careful consideration, I chose to reduce salaries across the board, but no one would lose their position. By combining transparent communication, legal rigour, and a commitment to shared purpose, organisations can weather instability while safeguarding both their people and long-term viability.’
A complementary perspective emphasises calm and strategic leadership, as Armando J. Martinez Benitez says:
‘In moments of instability, I lead with calm, precision, and strategic foresight. I cultivate tight cross-functional alignment, so legal guidance becomes an enabler, not a constraint, during high-pressure moments, consistently turning crises into opportunities to strengthen governance and build long-term resilience.’
Technology and transformation also feature prominently. As Matias Hercovich notes, AI is reshaping legal operations:
‘AI has been discussed for years as a transformative force, but its real impact is only beginning to materialise. AI tools now allow me to obtain answers across jurisdictions in under 60 seconds, freeing legal professionals to focus on strategic, high-value work.’
Taken together, these perspectives highlight the strengths of Miami’s in-house legal community: resilient, strategically minded, and forward-looking. Legal teams are increasingly doing more than managing risk; they are helping shape business strategy, informing key decisions, and delivering measurable impact.
The GC Powerlist: Miami 2026 reflects this shift across the city’s legal community: from risk management to strategic influence, from technical advice to business impact, and from individual contribution to collaborative excellence. We are pleased to present this year’s GC Powerlist: Miami, recognising the legal professionals who are shaping the future of corporate law while connecting local insight with global influence.
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.
