Senior Director - Global Antitrust, AI & EU Affairs | Uber
Executive Director Legal & Compliance | General Counsel | Rituals Cosmetics Enterprise B.V.
Head of contract management and legal | VolkerWessels Bouw & Vastgoedontwikkeling
General Counsel Corporate Affairs | Darling Ingredients International
General Counsel | Amvest Investment Management B.V.
General Counsel, Mauer Consultancy | Mauer Management Consultancy B.V.
Head of Legal, Europe and Global Privacy Counsel | Tata Consultancy Services
General Counsel, Group Manager Risk & Compliance | Fourthline
General Counsel, Procurement Operations Sustainability | Danone
Ocom BV Global Group General Counsel | LeaseWeb Global B.V.
Head of legal business, head of corporate and financial law | Philips
General Counsel Unilever Foods Europe & Head Legal the Netherlands | Unilever
Vice president, general counsel, ethics and compliance officer | Capgemini
General Counsel EMEA & LatAm | Spencer Stuart
General Counsel and Corporate Secretary | Port of Rotterdam
Legal, Compliance and Governance Assistant | Booking.com BV
Head of Legal Netherlands, Google Netherlands B.V. | Google Netherlands B.V.
General Counsel, Senior Director | JTC Group
General Counsel EBSC and SSA | COFCO International Netherlands B.V.
I am delighted to introduce the inaugural edition of Legal 500 GC Powerlist: Netherlands 2025, and extend my congratulations to all those featured in this year’s list.
I would also like to thank everyone who contributed to the research process and took the time to speak with us. Our GC Powerlist initiative aims to provide a platform for general counsel to exchange knowledge, insights and expertise, fostering an environment in which individuals can learn from each other and share their experience.
Amid rapid geopolitical shifts and technological change, these shared experiences are becoming increasingly valuable. As Ernst van de Weert, general counsel at Heineken N.V., points out: ‘one significant trend is the increasing importance of digital transformation and the integration of technology in legal processes.’ His peers, across all sectors, are quick to agree. Eva de Vries, Meta’s associate general counsel, warns that ‘there will be more overlapping regulation and a bigger focus on tech and AI’, something that will have a particular impact on legal counsel.
Discussions around digitalisation and the use of AI are therefore essential – and taking place in almost every in-house team on a global scale. Harnessing AI is key, Vanessa Vilar, general counsel at Unilever Ice Cream, reminds us. If general counsels’ decision-making process ‘can be powered by technology and AI, the in-house counsel becomes even more efficient and impactful, allowing more time dedicated to high value activities’, she says.
It is these high value activities where general counsel shine. What distinguishes in-house legal professionals, as many of our interviewees agree, is their ability to embed themselves within the organisation, offering guidance not just as legal advisors, but as trusted business partners: general counsel ‘are also strategic partners who contribute to the overall success of the organisation,’ points out Kyong Soon Rijnders, general counsel and ethics and compliance officer at Capgemini Netherlands.
This level of involvement means that general counsel have to adapt, taking on roles well beyond their formal job descriptions. The list of the most important attributes for a general counsel is a long one: as Jantine Bos, legal director at Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, candidly puts it, ‘what qualifies a modern in-house counsel… is a lot’. While legal expertise is a given, today’s general counsel must also possess a deep understanding of the business, a proactive approach to risk, the ability to translate complex issues into clear advice, and the agility to adapt and communicate with clarity.
The GC Powerlist: Netherlands 2025 is a testament to the vital role in-house counsel play in every organisation. As Bos succinctly reflects, ‘the work of a lawyer always lingers’.
The Legal 500 hosted the second edition of the GC Powerlist Luxembourg, celebrating the exceptional achievements of the country’s leading in-house legal professionals. Held in partnership with Loyens & Loeff Luxembourg, we were delighted to welcome over 80 of Luxembourg’s foremost legal professionals, marking a significant moment for an in-house legal community that has precious few chances to interact and share best practice with each other.
This year’s list was drawn from a record longlist of over 400 highly talented individuals, ultimately honouring a select group of standout GCs, CLOs, and senior legal figures whose contributions to their companies and industries set them apart on the global stage. Both returning honourees and new faces were in attendance, now united as part of the global GC Powerlist community.
Managing Partner of our event sponsors Loyens & Loeff Luxembourg Frédéric Franckx delivered a rousing address to those in attendance, congratulating them on their achievement and encouraging this year’s inductees to make the most of the opportunity to forge new connections. Guests were then invited to collect their award certificates and take official photographs to commemorate their achievement. As the formalities concluded, the evening transitioned into the lively networking celebration that is the hallmark of Legal 500’s GC Powerlist launches, and celebrations lasted long into the night.
