Middle East
Supported by the Association of Corporate Counsel
Group board secretary and Board governance officer | Bapco Energies
General counsel and Board secretary | Future Investment Initiative Institute
VP and Head of legal services Middle East Africa | DHL Group
Regional legal director | Aramex International Services
Head of legal (APAC, Middle East & Africa) | TikTok & ByteDance
UAE General counsel and Regional general counsel, MENAT | HSBC Bank Middle East Limited
Chief legal officer and General counsel | Qatar Airways
General counsel, Head of legal and compliance and Board secretary | Sela
Group chief legal and risk officer and General counsel | STC
General counsel (Head of legal) and Corporate secretary | Marafeq Qatar LLC
Deputy chief executive officer, Chief legal officer and Board secretary | Qatar Financial Centre Authority
Group general counsel; General counsel, Head of compliance, risk and MLRO | Dubai Financial Market and Nasdaq Dubai
VP, Executive general counsel, Corporate legal and Company secretariat | DP World
General counsel and Head of the ethics and compliance function | Khazna Data Centers
Head of legal – Middle East, North Africa, Türkiye & Pakistan | J.P. Morgan Chase Bank N.A.
Chief legal officer and Company secretary | QInvest LLC
General counsel | Tadweer - National Environment Recycling Company
Head of legal Middle East and Africa, Policy and regulatory coordination lead EMEIA | Apple
Chief legal, regulatory and corporate governance officer | Ooredoo Group
General counsel MEA APAC and Deputy general counsel premium midscale and economy division | Accor
General counsel, Head of ethics and business integrity | Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA)
Group chief legal officer | Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC)
EVP, General counsel and Corporate secretary | Saudi Aramco
Chief legal, regulatory and compliance officer and Board secretary | Zain Bahrain
General counsel and Secretary of the international board | Indevco Group
Head of legal and Director, legal and compliance - Middle East | Gartner
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.
