Netherlands 2025 – GC Powerlist
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Netherlands 2025

Supported by the Association of Corporate Counsel

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  • Industries

  • Powerlist

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Adriaan Buyserd

Head of Legal | Medtronic Trading NL B.V.

Healthcare

Aleid de Savornin Lohman

General Counsel and board member | Petrogas E&P 

Energy and utilities

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Angeline Woods

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

Transport and infrastructure

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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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Barbara Renssen

Head of contract management and legal | VolkerWessels Bouw & Vastgoedontwikkeling

Industrials and real estate

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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Charlotte Van Meer

General Counsel | AkzoNobel

Consumer products

Christiaan (Chris) de Wal

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

Commercial and professional services

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David Dauchez

Senior counsel - global antitrust | Uber

Transport and infrastructure

David Goris

Head of Legal Affairs | PPG

Information technology

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Desiree van der Veer

General Counsel | The Social Hub

Hotels, restaurants and leisure

Domenico Converso

Head of privacy legal | Philips

Commercial and professional services

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Dorothea Kettrukat

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

Healthcare

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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Francisca Comiche

General counsel | Rabobank

Financials

Frederick Leentfaar

Associate General Counsel, Data Protection | Meta

Information technology

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Giorgio Fossati

General counsel | Stellantis

Transport and infrastructure

Gitte Groenewold-Wong

Head of Group Legal | Prosus Group

Consumer products

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Gregory David

General Counsel, Procurement Operations Sustainability | Danone

Food, beverages and tobacco

Hannah de Jong

General Counsel Inter IKEA Group | Inter Ikea

Consumer products

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Haye Strikwerda

General Counsel | ACT Commodities Group B.V.

Financials

Ianis Girgenson

Group general counsel | United Group B.V.

Telecommunication services

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Ilse van Gorp

Legal & Compliance Manager | AstraZeneca

Healthcare

Inés van der Vorst

General Counsel | ILX Management B.V.

Financials

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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

Jantine Bos

Director Legal | Unibail Rodamco Westfield

Financials

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Jap Jongedijk

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

Industrials and real estate

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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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

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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Khaled Rabbani

Chief legal and corporate affairs officer | JDE Peet's

Food, beverages and tobacco

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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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

Liesbeth Koomen

Group General Counsel/Policy & Regulatory | STX Group

Financials

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Linda Szymanski

General Counsel, Corporate & Company Secretary | Shell

Energy and utilities

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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Mariëtte Swart

Chief legal and compliance officer | Adyen

Financials

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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Martijn Schoonenberg

Assistant General Counsel & Company Secretary | Sun Chemical

Consumer products

Mathilde Fabre

VP Associate General Counsel Global Privacy | PVH Corp

Consumer products

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Michael Otte

Head of Legal & Company Secretary | Exor

Financials

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Michel de Wit

General Counsel | CCV Group B.V.

Financials

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Milica Antic

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

Information technology

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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Olga Elsenga

General counsel | Ingenico Group

Financials

Omiyinka Doris

Group General Counsel | VEON LTD

Telecommunication services

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Onno Van Klinken

General counsel | Aegon

Financials

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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Rob Zimmermann

General counsel EMEA | Netflix

Sports and media

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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Sandrine Auffret

General Counsel | ASML

Information technology

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Sanne Overbosch

Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer | Shell

Energy and utilities

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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Simone Davina

VP General Counsel Europe | Siemens Energy

Energy and utilities

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Sjoerd Pistorius

General Counsel | Warmtebedrijf Holding

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

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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Vroukje van Oosten Slingeland

General counsel | ING

Financials

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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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 Powerlist Japan 2025

The Legal 500 was proud to host the third edition of the GC Powerlist: Japan 2025 at the Capitol Hotel Tokyu, honouring the top General Counsel, Chief Legal Officers, Legal Directors, and senior in-house legal professionals operating at the highest level of Japan’s corporate legal landscape. Held in Tokyo, this year’s reception welcomed around 100 of the most respected and senior corporate counsel from across Japan. It was an unrivalled success, and cements Legal 500’s status as the leading force in legal media supporting the achievements of in-house counsel in Japan. The GC Powerlist: Japan 2025 marks the continuation of our commitment to recognising excellence in-house, and this year’s edition represents the most competitive and selective list to date.

Joe Boswell, lead editor of the GC powerlist publication at The Legal 500, opened the evening with an introduction that reflected on the growing prestige of the Japan list. He emphasised how the Powerlist has grown stronger each year, both in scope and quality, making the task of selection more difficult. This year’s honourees emerged from a deeply competitive field, making their recognition even more meaningful.

Boswell extended heartfelt congratulations to all honourees and acknowledged the critical support of key partners and sponsors who made the evening possible. Special thanks were given to Anderson Mori & Tomotsune, Morrison Foerster, iManage, JustLegal, and SS&C Intralinks for their generous sponsorship and ongoing collaboration.

In a moment of reflection, Joe paid tribute to Tim Mackey, chief legal officer at SoftBank, who sadly passed away unexpectedly earlier this year. Tim had contributed to the Powerlist in each of its three editions and was known not only for his exceptional legal acumen but also for his warmth and generosity.

The evening featured insightful remarks from distinguished speakers representing our partners and the broader legal community: Mischa Mulligan, Japan Director at SS&C Intralinks; Hiroki Kodate, Partner and Management Committee Member at Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Jeremy White, Global Co-Chair of M&A for Morrison Foerster; and, representing those awarded in the Powerlist, Naoki Hamada, General Counsel for Japan at HSBC.

Each speaker provided reflections on legal innovation, leadership, and the evolving role of in-house counsel in Japan’s corporate landscape. Their remarks added valuable context to the achievements celebrated throughout the evening.

The formal awards segment celebrated this year’s GC Powerlist honourees. With assistance from long-time collaborator Isaac Uchiyama who read out awardees’ names, recipients were invited to collect their certificates, pose for photographs, and be formally recognised by their peers.

Certificates were presented on stage by Hiroki Kodate or Anderson Mori & Tomotsune and Jeremy White of Morrison Foerster, whose participation further underlined the deep support of the Japanese and international legal communities.

The GC Powerlist: Japan 2025 reception reaffirmed Legal 500’s commitment to spotlighting the very best of in-house legal talent. With record levels of interest and unmatched quality among candidates, the Japan edition continues to solidify its place as one of the most respected publications in the global GC Powerlist series.

We extend our sincere congratulations to all honourees and thank our partners, sponsors, and speakers for making the evening a success.

We look forward to returning to Tokyo again next year. As a parting gift, you can view Naoki Hamada’s excellent keynote address below, where he touches on a lot of issues and themes that many other GC, whatever country they operate in, will recognise:

‘Good evening, everyone. I am Naoki Hamada of HSBC. I am very pleased to be here speaking to you today. It is a great pleasure and honor, and at the same time, I feel a bit overwhelmed being surrounded by the busiest and most expensive lawyers in the industry—even if I know that nobody will be charging us for their time. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Legal 500 for organizing such a great event, and Anderson Mori & Tomotsune, Morrison Foerster, iManage, SS&C Intralinks, and Just Legal for sponsoring and supporting it. And, huge congratulations on the recognition each of you is receiving, which is truly a great accomplishment and the result of your hard work and the accumulated trust the entire industry has placed in you.

It must be emphasized that this award is given only to general counsels. Being a general counsel means a lot more than just being a subject matter expert. You are a most reliable strategic partner for the business, and I am sure that you have distinguished yourself from the crowd by your ability to identify underlying risks, devise legal solutions, ensure the right processes and governance for corporate decisions, influence others, and educate the next generation of lawyers. This is what you are being recognized for.

Looking back on my career, I have been hugely helped by lawyers in other companies through various industry communities. When I joined the in-house world 12 years ago from a Japanese law firm, large international banks were all struggling with a huge wave of regulatory reform. Back then, I was relatively new to that particular area of finance, and my hiring was somewhat potential-based. Nonetheless, I was assigned to lead the regulatory reform efforts locally. My predecessor had left the bank before I joined, there was no sufficient handover, and I was completely lost as to what to do. What helped me most were the industry peer group discussions, where in-house counsels from major banks would get together to discuss common issues. I learned so much from what was discussed there and absorbed as much as I could. Without that network, I am sure that I wouldn’t have survived that time.

However, our situation today is far more difficult. The changes in the landscape we face today are unprecedented. Technological developments and the corresponding shifts in geopolitical and industrial landscapes are completely unpredictable, and the speed at which they happen is far faster than before. We might face a time that requires us to pivot, forcing us to redefine how we add value and rebuild the way we work. That is somewhat intimidating. But, I am confident that a way forward will be found through the collective wisdom and effort of the people in this room. I would like to be a part of that, and this network of people is enormously valuable and truly priceless.

Finally, let’s have a drink and celebrate our achievements for now – before your CEO calls asking you to join a call! Thank you so much.’