Namibia 2026
Supported by the Association of Corporate Counsel
Group Legal and Company Secretary | Ongos Valley Development
Head: Legal Compliance and Company Secretary | National Disability Council of Namibia
Executive: Regulatory & Corporate Legal Services | CRAN - Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia
Legal Advisor and Licensing Services | Namibia Financial Institutions Supervisory (NAMFISA)
Manager: Legal, Complaince and AML | Mobile Telecommunications (MTC)
Anti-Money Laundering Manager(Financial Crime), Governance and Compliance Department | Letshego Holdings Namibia
Manager: Corporate Communications and Legal ServicesManager | Electricity Control Board (ECB)
Company Secretary and Senior Manager for Legal, Risk and Compliance | Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board
General Manager: Governance, Legal and Risk Management | Namibian Agronomic Board
Chief Legal Advisor and Company Secretary | Namibian Ports Authority
Head of Governance, Risk and Compliance | Electricity Control Board
Manager Legal, Complaince, Risk, and Compnay Secretary | Namforce Lide Insurance
Legal Director and Company Secretary | Namibia Breweries
Head of Legal Services and Regulatory Affairs | Telecom Namibia
Chief Risk and Legal Officer | GIPF (Government Institutions Pension Fund)
Head of Legal, Governance & Compliance, and Company Secretary | Letshego Holdings Namibia
Head of Legal Services an Company Secretary | Namibia Water Corporation
Chief Legal, Compliance and Risk Officer | Mobile Telecommunications (MTC)
On behalf of Legal 500, I am delighted to introduce the inaugural GC Powerlist: Namibia 2026. This first edition highlights the general counsel and in-house legal teams who play a crucial role in shaping Namibia’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 Namibian law firms and in-house teams, reflecting the country’s dynamic and highly engaged legal community.
Across Namibia, 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: Namibia 2026 celebrates those who combine deep legal expertise with leadership, vision, and tangible impact.
Managing uncertainty and building resilience is a common theme. As Josephine Shigwedha explains:
‘Resilience is built through discipline, foresight, and integrity. By maintaining focus, remaining committed to excellence, and grounding all actions in the law, the legal function can serve as a stabilising force during periods of uncertainty.’
A complementary perspective emphasises operational discipline and accountability, as Wahliet Bauleth says:
‘I treat a crisis as both an operational event and a governance test… speed cannot come at the cost of accountability.’
Technology and transformation also feature prominently. As Shigwedha notes, automation is shifting legal teams ‘away from purely reactive roles towards more strategic, data-driven functions,’ while Bauleth emphasises that AI is a ‘force-multiplier in operational compliance rather than a substitute for legal judgment.’ Taken together, these perspectives highlight the strengths of Namibia’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: Namibia 2026 reflects this shift across the country’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 inaugural GC Powerlist in Namibia, recognising the legal professionals who are shaping the future of corporate law while connecting local insight with global influence.
Last week, Legal 500 had the absolute pleasure of celebrating the launch of the GC Powerlist Canada 2026. With the skylines of Toronto and Vancouver as our incredible backdrop, we gathered at DLA Piper’s offices in both cities with some of the most prestigious names in the country’s in-house legal community.
Behind those names, titles and recognitions are exceptional professionals who, over the past year, have demonstrated remarkable resilience, a commitment to innovation, and an impeccable understanding of what it means to be a good leader in a profession that is under constant pressure and change.
During the evening, Carmen Godoy, lead editor of this year’s GC Powerlist Canada, welcomed attendees and shared the findings of this year’s research. Throughout the past year, key themes emerged, including resilience in the face of uncertainty, the responsible integration of AI into the legal function, and the growing strategic role of the general counsel within the business.
What stood out most during the research was how the legal leaders recognised in this year’s Powerlist understand that the lasting impact of their achievements must be grounded in a leadership style that always puts people first.
During our events, Russel Drew, Partner and CEO at DLA Piper Canada in Toronto, and Brian Hiebert, Partner at DLA Piper Canada in Vancouver, also shared words of encouragement and gratitude, recognising the important and valuable contributions that our powerlisters make to their organisations and to the broader legal profession.
We would like to thank DLA Piper for its support in fostering these opportunities to bring together the in-house legal community around the world.
And to our powerlisters, congratulations on a truly well-deserved recognition. It was a great pleasure to host you and learn more about your experiences and achievements. Thank you for being part of our GC community, and we hope to see you again soon.
Carmen Godoy Martin – Lead editor GC Powerlist Canada 2026.
