Netherlands 2025
Supported by the Association of Corporate Counsel
Executive Director Legal & Compliance | General Counsel | Rituals Cosmetics Enterprise B.V.
General Counsel Corporate Affairs | Darling Ingredients International
General Counsel | Amvest Investment Management B.V.
General Counsel, Mauer Consultancy | Mauer Management Consultancy B.V.
General Counsel, Group Manager Risk & Compliance | Fourthline
General Counsel Unilever Foods Europe & Head Legal the Netherlands | Unilever
Vice president, general counsel, ethics and compliance officer | Capgemini
General Counsel and Corporate Secretary | Port of Rotterdam
Legal, Compliance and Governance Assistant | Booking.com BV
General Counsel, Senior Director | JTC Group
General Counsel EBSC and SSA | COFCO International Netherlands B.V.
Senior Director - Global Antitrust, AI & EU Affairs | Uber
Head of contract management and legal | VolkerWessels Bouw & Vastgoedontwikkeling
Head of Legal, Europe and Global Privacy Counsel | Tata Consultancy Services
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 EMEA & LatAm | Spencer Stuart
Head of Legal Netherlands, Google Netherlands B.V. | Google 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’.
On 9 June, Legal 500 hosted the launch of the GC Powerlist: Brazil 2026 at the Grand Hyatt in São Paulo, once again in exclusive partnership with Cescon Barrieu – marking the fourth consecutive year of collaboration with our longstanding key partner in the country. This flagship publication celebrates the most accomplished and influential in-house lawyers in Brazil, bringing together leading corporate legal professionals to recognise their outstanding achievements.
The evening opened with remarks from Francisco Castro, Research Editor at Legal 500 and editorial lead behind the publication. He highlighted the exceptional accomplishments of this year’s honourees and shared key insights drawn from the research and submissions process, including the prominence of certain industries, the continued expansion of in-house roles into executive and strategic functions, and the growing diversity, particularly the increasing presence of women in legal leadership positions.
This was followed by remarks from Alexandre Barreto, Managing Partner at Cescon Barrieu, who congratulated the featured general counsel and reflected on the ongoing evolution of Brazil’s legal and business sectors. He underscored the importance of recognising the in-house legal community and noted how the firm continues to adapt to the shifting demands of both clients and the wider business landscape.
With over 100 guests in attendance, including many of Brazil’s leading corporate legal professionals, the event once again demonstrated Legal 500 and Cescon Barrieu’s shared commitment to championing the country’s in-house legal talent.
Legal 500 extends its sincere thanks to Cescon Barrieu for their continued partnership, now in its fourth consecutive year. We are also pleased to announce our return to Brazil later this year with the GC Summit Premier, our new flagship platform for in-house counsel to exchange ideas, strengthen networks, and explore the key legal challenges shaping today’s business environment.
