Netherlands 2025 – GC Powerlist
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Netherlands 2025

Supported by the Association of Corporate Counsel

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  • Industries

  • Powerlist

Aleid de Savornin Lohman

General Counsel and board member | Petrogas E&P 

Energy and utilities

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Anne Veldhuizen

Executive Director Legal & Compliance | General Counsel | Rituals Cosmetics Enterprise B.V.

Consumer products

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Annemiek Meijvogel

Head of Legal Franchise | Inter IKEA Systems

Consumer products

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Bart-Jaap van Emmerik

Head of Legal | Mercedes-Benz Nederland

Transport and infrastructure

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Ben Culloty

Senior Counsel | adidas

Consumer products

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Caroline Friedman De Waele

General Counsel Corporate Affairs | Darling Ingredients International

Food, beverages and tobacco

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Cecile van Kimmenade

General Counsel | Amvest Investment Management B.V.

Industrials and real estate

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Célie Verstelle

General counsel | Adevinta

Financials

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Chantal Pesch

Head of Legal EMEA, APAC & India | Signify

Energy and utilities

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Charlotte Sophie van Triest

Associate General Counsel, Europe | Spin Master

Consumer products

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Christiaan (Chris) de Wal

General Counsel, Mauer Consultancy | Mauer Management Consultancy B.V.

Commercial and professional services

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David Goris

Head of Legal Affairs | PPG

Information technology

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Domenico Converso

Head of privacy legal | Philips

Commercial and professional services

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Eileen Hardell

General Counsel Corporate | SLB

Energy and utilities

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Elisabetta Aarts

CCO | Ventolines B.V.

Energy and utilities

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Ernst van de Weert

General Counsel | Heineken N.V.

Food, beverages and tobacco

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Eva de Vries

Associate General Counsel | Meta

Food, beverages and tobacco

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Feike Derksen

General counsel | IKEA Foundation

Charity

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Flavia Kaczelnik

VP, Associate General Counsel EMEA | BCD Travel

Consumer products

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Fleur de Roos

General Counsel, Group Manager Risk & Compliance | Fourthline

Hotels, restaurants and leisure

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Floortje Jansen

General counsel and company secretary | DAF Trucks

Transport and infrastructure

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Floris de Ruiter

General counsel | CBRE Investment Management

Industrials and real estate

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Floris Peters

Legal & Compliance Officer | Orange Capital Partners

Financials

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Frederick Leentfaar

Associate General Counsel, Data Protection | Meta

Information technology

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Gitte Groenewold-Wong

Head of Group Legal | Prosus Group

Consumer products

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Hannah de Jong

General Counsel Inter IKEA Group | Inter Ikea

Consumer products

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Ianis Girgenson

Group general counsel | United Group B.V.

Telecommunication services

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Inés van der Vorst

General Counsel | ILX Management B.V.

Financials

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Jantine Bos

Director Legal | Unibail Rodamco Westfield

Financials

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Jasper Spanbroek

General counsel and company secretary | Royal KPN

Telecommmunications Services

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Jasper Weijts

Head of legal international | flatexDEGIRO Bank AG

Financials

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Jonathan Gimblett

SVP and general counsel Europe | Prologis, Inc.

Industrials and real estate

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Joost Jonkman

(Associate) General Counsel - Europe | Collins Foods

Industrials and real estate

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Joost Rietveld

Senior legal counsel | APG Asset Management

Commercial and professional services

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Jorine ten Wolde

Head of legal | Groendus

Energy and utilities

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Jurriën Duijker

Director Legal & Investments | Nedvest

Financials

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JW Van Dijk

Director of business affairs and legal | Universal Music Group

Sports and media

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Kathryn Goris

Senior Legal Counsel | Aqua-Spark

Financials

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Klaas Evelein

General Counsel Unilever Foods Europe & Head Legal the Netherlands | Unilever

Consumer products

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Kyong Soon Rijnders

Vice president, general counsel, ethics and compliance officer | Capgemini

Information technology

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Liesbeth Koomen

Group General Counsel/Policy & Regulatory | STX Group

Financials

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Lisa Hees

General Counsel | CL Venture Partners B.V. (StartGreen Capital)

Financials

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Lisanne Wieringa

Legal partner | Roche Diagnostics Nederland B.V.

Healthcare

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Lisette Franke

Senior Legal & Compliance Business Partner | Bayer B.V.

Healthcare

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Lisette Gunst-Schuilwerve

General counsel | Effectory

Information technology

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Margreet Poot

General Counsel and Corporate Secretary | Port of Rotterdam

Transport and infrastructure

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Maria Hortensia de la Peña

Legal Counsel | Inter IKEA Systems

Consumer products

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Maria Ignacia (Ina) Torres Wahl

Legal counsel | Goodwell Investments

Financials

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Maria Rocha Barros

Legal, Compliance and Governance Assistant | Booking.com BV

Hotels, restaurants and leisure

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Marieke Poulie

Regional Managing Counsel Mid-Europe Region | MSD

Healthcare

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Marleen Zandbergen

Head of Legal & Company Secretary | Dynamic Credit

Financials

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Martijn Bollen

General Counsel, Catalyst Microfinance Investors | ASA International

Financials

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Mathilde Fabre

VP Associate General Counsel Global Privacy | PVH Corp

Consumer products

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Michel de Wit

General Counsel | CCV Group B.V.

Financials

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Mischa Menheere

Head of Legal | Investancia Group

Energy and utilities

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Nga Yau Wong

VP Legal Affairs & General Counsel | Chint Solar Europe

Energy and utilities

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Nik Post

General Counsel & Compliance Officer | Quadrum Capital

Financials

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Oana-Jeanina Astilean

General Counsel, Senior Director | JTC Group

Commercial and professional services

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Omiyinka Doris

Group General Counsel | VEON LTD

Telecommunication services

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Paula Ravensbergen

Global Head of Legal & Corporate Secretary | Flow Traders

Financials

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Pein van Noort

Legal Director Privacy & Cybersecurity | Uber

Transport and infrastructure

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Pim Stokman

General counsel | Marktlink Capital

Financials

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Raoul Spaan

Associate General Counsel, EMEA | Solera

Information technology

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Raphael Piront

Head of Legal Benelux | Abbott

Healthcare

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Róbin de Wit

General Counsel / Legal Director | Funda

Industrials and real estate

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Rona Nisar

Deputy General Counsel – Corporate | STX Group

Financials

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Samantha Hogben

General counsel EMEA | HOYA Corporation

Healthcare

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Samuel Berneman

Regional Counsel BeNeLux | Stryker

Healthcare

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Samuel Rooderkerk

Assistant Deputy General Counsel | Comcast Cable

Telecommunication services

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Sheila Jassies

General Counsel EBSC and SSA | COFCO International Netherlands B.V.

Food, beverages and tobacco

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Simon Hughes

General Counsel | TomTom International BV

Information technology

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Sjoerd Pistorius

General Counsel | Warmtebedrijf Holding

Energy and utilities

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Vanessa Vilar

General counsel | Unilever Ice Cream

Food, beverages and tobacco

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Viola Tilanus

General Counsel/Head Legal | Invest International

Financials

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Volker Weisshaar

General Counsel EMEA & Managing Director | Sonos

Telecommunication services

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Wieteke van de Kamp

General counsel | Avedon Capital Partners

Financials

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Willem Verschuur

Managing Director & General Counsel | Multifund

Financials

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Adriaan Buyserd

Head of Legal | Medtronic Trading NL B.V.

Healthcare

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Angeline Woods

Senior Director - Global Antitrust, AI & EU Affairs | Uber

Transport and infrastructure

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Barbara Renssen

Head of contract management and legal | VolkerWessels Bouw & Vastgoedontwikkeling

Industrials and real estate

Charlotte Van Meer

General Counsel | AkzoNobel

Consumer products

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David Dauchez

Senior counsel - global antitrust | Uber

Transport and infrastructure

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Desiree van der Veer

General Counsel | The Social Hub

Hotels, restaurants and leisure

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Dorothea Kettrukat

Head of Legal, Europe and Global Privacy Counsel | Tata Consultancy Services

Healthcare

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Francisca Comiche

General counsel | Rabobank

Financials

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Giorgio Fossati

General counsel | Stellantis

Transport and infrastructure

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Gregory David

General Counsel, Procurement Operations Sustainability | Danone

Food, beverages and tobacco

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Haye Strikwerda

General Counsel | ACT Commodities Group B.V.

Financials

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Ilse van Gorp

Legal & Compliance Manager | AstraZeneca

Healthcare

Jacqueline Werken

Ocom BV Global Group General Counsel | LeaseWeb Global B.V.

Information technology

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Janet Stuijt

General Counsel and Head of Compliance, and Company Secretary | NN Group

Financials

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Jap Jongedijk

Head of legal business, head of corporate and financial law | Philips

Industrials and real estate

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Jeroen Seligmann

Group general counsel | ASM

Telecommunication services

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John Broussard

Deputy general counsel | LyondellBasell

Materials and mining

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Jolène Tribble

General Counsel and Company Secretary | Fokker Services Group

Energy and utilities

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Khaled Rabbani

Chief legal and corporate affairs officer | JDE Peet's

Food, beverages and tobacco

Laura Aymerich Corominas

General Counsel EMEA & LatAm  | Spencer Stuart

Commercial and professional services

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Leendert Eijgenraam

General counsel | Royal FloraHolland

Transport and infrastructure

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Linda Szymanski

General Counsel, Corporate & Company Secretary | Shell

Energy and utilities

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Mariëtte Swart

Chief legal and compliance officer | Adyen

Financials

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Martijn Schoonenberg

Assistant General Counsel & Company Secretary | Sun Chemical

Consumer products

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Michael Otte

Head of Legal & Company Secretary | Exor

Financials

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Milica Antic

Head of Legal Netherlands, Google Netherlands B.V. | Google Netherlands B.V.

Information technology

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Olga Elsenga

General counsel | Ingenico Group

Financials

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Onno Van Klinken

General counsel | Aegon

Financials

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Rob Zimmermann

General counsel EMEA | Netflix

Sports and media

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Sandrine Auffret

General Counsel | ASML

Information technology

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Sanne Overbosch

Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer | Shell

Energy and utilities

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Simone Davina

VP General Counsel Europe | Siemens Energy

Energy and utilities

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Taida Pasic

General counsel | Dept Agency

Financials

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Tim Shelhamer

SVP & Chief Corporate Counsel | NXP Semiconductors

Information technology

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Vroukje van Oosten Slingeland

General counsel | ING

Financials

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’.

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Supported by

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GC Summit: Brazil 2025

The Legal 500 Brazil Forum gathered a distinguished cohort of legal professionals, business leaders, and regulatory experts for a full day of thought leadership, collaboration, and strategic dialogue in São Paulo. As Brazil enters a new chapter of regulatory transformation and economic complexity, the forum provided a timely and comprehensive platform to examine the legal developments shaping the country’s business environment—both domestically and in the global arena.

The day began with a warm welcome from The Legal 500, who underscored the forum’s mission: to foster meaningful discussions around the critical legal and commercial shifts currently defining Brazil’s future.

Opening the programme was a compelling panel focused on the intersection of intellectual property and data protection, supported by Lefosse Advogados. Drawing lessons from the life sciences, data infrastructure, and technology sectors, the session explored how these once-separate domains are now deeply intertwined, and how legal departments must adopt integrated strategies to manage risk and drive innovation. Speakers highlighted the pressing need for future-proofed governance structures capable of withstanding regulatory volatility and technological disruption.

The conversation then moved into the fast-evolving world of artificial intelligence in corporate investigations. In a session shaped by Iokoi advogados, panellists examined how AI is transforming evidence gathering, fraud detection, and legal analysis. The use of advanced technologies to enhance investigatory efficiency and minimise human error was a central theme, with participants calling for careful balancing between innovation, privacy, and ethical oversight.

Demarest Advogados supported the following panel, which tackled one of the most significant legal shifts in recent Brazilian history: tax reform. With the country undertaking a sweeping overhaul of its tax regime—including the consolidation of indirect taxes into a VAT-like system—speakers analysed both the immediate and long-term implications for businesses. The discussion was grounded in practicality, focusing on compliance readiness, corporate restructuring, and the transitional challenges that in-house legal teams must now navigate.

In collaboration with TozziniFreire Advogados, the spotlight then turned to agribusiness, a sector at the heart of Brazil’s economy. This panel addressed the pressing challenges posed by both tariff and non-tariff trade barriers, with particular attention to environmental compliance, traceability, and international market access. While regulatory constraints were a recurring concern, the session also explored how these challenges can give rise to new opportunities for innovation and market differentiation within the sector.

After the lunch break, the agenda resumed with an urgent and timely session on crisis management, presented with the support of Veirano Advogados. From product recalls and data breaches to regulatory probes and environmental incidents, panellists drew from real-world experience to build a 360-degree framework for crisis readiness. Prevention, internal communications, stakeholder management, and reputational recovery were all addressed, providing legal leaders with a strategic toolkit for navigating high-stakes scenarios.

The final panel of the day, held in partnership with Cascione Advogados, explored strategic planning in an increasingly competitive and uncertain landscape. Against a backdrop of tax reform, global trade frictions, and shifting political alliances, the discussion centred on risk mitigation, adaptability, and long-term value creation. Speakers shared how legal teams can play a proactive role in shaping business strategy amid regulatory upheaval, turning legal foresight into competitive advantage.

As the event came to a close, guests gathered for drinks and canapés—an elegant and convivial end to a day marked by rich dialogue, expert insight, and meaningful connection.