Portugal 2024
Supported by the Association of Corporate Counsel
Senior counsel | Tabaqueira (Philip Morris International)
Hall of fame
Senior legal counsel | Securitas - Security Services Ibero America
Legal, compliance and public affairs director and company secretary | The Navigator Company
Head of legal and compliance and secretary to the board of directors | Banco Primus
Head of legal Iberia and Global co-head of McKinsey legal sustainability | McKinsey & Company
Country legal counsel and compliance head | Citibank Portugal
Hall of fame
Group general counsel, chief compliance officer and company secretary | Fidelidade
Hall of fame
Head of legal, compliance (DPO and AML) and corporate affairs | Pignus - Crédito Económico Popular
General counsel and company secretary | TAP Air Portugal
Legal counsel | Tabaqueira (Philip Morris International)
Rising stars
Head of legal and company secretary | REN - Redes Energéticas Nacionais
Head of legal and compliance | Corticeira Amorim
Hall of fame
Head of legal, compliance and company secretary | Altri
Company secretary, director of governance and compliance | Semapa – Sociedade de Investimento e Gestão
Head of legal | Sociedade Central de Cervejas e Bebidas and Novadis
Building on the success of last year’s inaugural GC Powerlist: Portugal, we are thrilled to introduce the 2024 edition, spotlighting the nation’s most successful and accomplished in-house lawyers. This publication celebrates the exceptional achievements and innovative approaches of the selected individuals as they navigate the complexities of the Portuguese legal landscape.Â
This year, we are proud to present the second-ever GC Powerlist edition to feature a Hall of Fame category. This prestigious section honours the most distinguished corporate lawyers who have made a lasting impact over the past two decades. Inclusion in the Hall of Fame is a testament to a lawyer’s outstanding track record, extensive experience, and significant influence on Portugal’s legal field. This new section celebrates their enduring contributions and aims to inspire the next generation of in-house lawyers.Â
Within these pages, you will find in-depth profiles and exclusive interviews with the most influential and highly regarded general counsel from a diverse range of industries. These individuals have consistently demonstrated their ability to shape legal strategies, mitigate risks, and provide invaluable strategic guidance to their organisations. Their achievements serve as an inspiration to the legal community, showcasing the profound impact that in-house lawyers can have on shaping business strategies and driving remarkable success.Â
Split between individuals, Hall of Fame and Rising Stars categories, this publication covers many relevant topics and challenges unique to the in-house legal field. We invite you to explore the GC Powerlist: Portugal 2024 and discover the extraordinary stories of these exceptional professionals. Through their experiences and insights, we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the in-house legal landscape in Portugal and highlight the invaluable contributions of the country’s top corporate lawyers.Â
On behalf of The Legal 500, I extend our deepest gratitude to all the in-house lawyers featured in this publication for their valuable contributions and for sharing their journeys with us. It is my pleasure to present to you this distinguished collection, showcasing Portugal’s future generation of brilliant general counsel and the current most exceptional, diligent, and celebrated in-house lawyers.Â
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Francisco Castro | Senior research analyst | GC Powerlist seriesÂ
As we reflect on the past year, we are reminded of the myriad challenges that have tested our resilience and adaptability. The global landscape has been marked by unprecedented uncertainties, from economic fluctuations to regulatory changes and unforeseen crises. Yet, amidst these trials, I have witnessed remarkable fortitude and ingenuity within the internal legal teams of our companies.
It is truly inspiring to see how you, the leaders of these teams, have navigated through these turbulent times with such grace and determination. Your ability to foresee risks, manage complexities, and provide sound legal guidance has been instrumental in steering your organisations toward stability and growth. The legal landscape is continually evolving, and your proactive approach in adapting to these changes is commendable. You have tackled intricate legal issues, navigated regulatory mazes, and strategized for the future, ensuring that our companies remain robust in an ever-changing world.
I must take a moment to express our heartfelt admiration for the internal legal teams you lead. Your dedication, expertise, and unwavering commitment have not gone unnoticed. It is your hard work behind the scenes that fortifies your companies, safeguarding their interests and enabling their ambitions.
The growth of these internal legal teams, under your exemplary leadership, has also been a source of growth and deep learning for us. As we engage with such dynamic and forward-thinking professionals, we too are driven to innovate, improve, and elevate our own practices. Your leadership not only influences your companies but also sets a benchmark for the wider legal community.
In conclusion, I want to extend PLMJ’s deepest thanks for sharing your valuable time with us. It has been a pleasure and an honour to share in your journey, to witness your resilience, and to grow together. As we look ahead, let us continue to build on this foundation of trust and collaboration, facing the future with confidence and optimism.
Thank you, and here’s to another year of shared success and mutual growth.
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.’
