Romania 2023 – GC Powerlist
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Romania 2023

  • Industries

  • Powerlist

Adina Calfa

Group general counsel | E - Infra

Industrials and real estate

Team size: 12  Adina is currently acting as group general counsel for the reputable Romanian infrastructure group of companies, E-Infra Group, as well as a board member of Netcity Telecom (an...

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Adina David

Legal director | Transelectrica

Energy and utilities

Adrian Manole

Head of legal and compliance Central Eastern Europe | Danone

Food

Adrian Manole is head of legal and compliance Central Eastern Europe in Danone, leading a team of five countries (Romania, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary).  Before moving to Danone,...

Adrian Stângaciu

Head of legal | Romanian Football Federation (Federatia Romana de Fotbal)

Sports and media

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Adrian Teodorescu

Legal manager | Dedeman

Consumer products

Alex Bumbu

Head of legal | Speedwell

Information technology

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Alexandra Pintilie

Manager, legal and compliance | Booking Holdings Romania

Information technology

Alexandra Pintilie is manager – legal and compliance at Booking Holdings Romania and she has joined the team in October, 2022, managing the legal and compliance activity. Her role focuses...

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Alexandra Olaru

Director legal and external affairs | Vodafone Romania

Telecommunication services

Alexandra Padurariu

Head of legal affairs and compliance | Samsung Electronics

Consumer products

With more than 15 years of expertise in the legal field, Alexandra Padurariu has been handling legal and compliance for Samsung Electronics Romania, ever since the start of company’s activity in our...

Alexandru Berea

General counsel | BCR

Financials

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Alexandru-Valentin Dinuţă

Legal and administrative manager | Amromco Energy

Energy and utilities

Alexandru-Valentin Dinuţă is the legal and administrative manager for Amromco Energy, possessing over 20 years of professional experience and expertise in the legal field for various industries, with an emphasis...

Alice Radu

General legal counsel Romania – Bulgaria | Robert Bosch

Consumer products

Alice Radu has served as legal director at Bosch for five years, managing the legal services department in Region Romania – Bulgaria (also covering Moldova). In 2022 she was appointed...

Alina Arsene

Head of legal | Interbrands Orbico Romania

Industrials and real estate

Alina has more than 15 years of professional experience as in-house legal counsel, she is a well appraised legal professional with extensive expertise in commercial business law, M&A, competition law...

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Alina Grigore

Head of legal and compliance SEE Area | British American Tobacco

Food, beverages and tobacco

Alina Dumitrascu

Head of legal and corporate affairs Romania | Enel Romania

Energy and utilities

Alina Dumitrascu is a passionate energy lawyer, with over 20 years of experience and has taken on several leadership positions, including senior roles in public, private and civic sectors in...

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Alina Senchea

Legal manager East Balkans | PepsiCo

Food, beverages and tobacco

Ana Busuioc

Legal and corporate affairs director | Edenred Romania

Financials

Ana Busuioc is legal and corporate affairs at Edenred Romani. She also oversees and coordinates legal operations in three other companies within Edenred Group: Edenred Digital Center, Benefit Systems and Benefit...

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Andreea Alexandrescu

Head of legal | Elements Development

Commercial and professional services

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Andreea Zlat

Legal director | Lidl România

Food, beverages and tobacco

Andrei Popa

Director of legal and public affairs department and member of the executive committee | Up Romania

Financials

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Arina Dobrescu

Legal director | Tenaris Romania

Energy and utilities

Arina Dobrescu is the legal director of Tenaris Romania. Arina has over 12 years of experience as a general counsel and ten years as a lawyer with several domestic and...

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Aurelia Puiu

General counsel and chief compliance officer | Renault Group

Consumer products

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Bianca Vlad

General counsel | CORA

Consumer products

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Bogdan Pavelescu

Head of legal and compliance | Zacaria Group

Industrials and real estate

Bogdan Pleșuvescu

General counsel | Banca Transilvania

Financials

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Camelia Nicoara

Legal and public affairs director Central Europe | Michelin

Materials and mining

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Catalin Istrate

Legal director | Gilead Sciences

Healthcare

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Catalin Tirziu

Head of legal | Globalworth

Industrials and real estate

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Christian Catalin I. Mitu

Director of legal affairs | Bitdefender

Information technology

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Ciprian Cosma

Head of group legal | Swiss Automotive Group

Consumer products

Clementina Canel

Head of legal | Fepra

Energy and utilities

Clementina Canel has been director of legal and compliance at Fepra since 2021. She has 17 years of experience in the legal field, in specific areas like environment, business law,...

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Codrut Tudor

Legal director | Societatea Nationala Nuclearelectrica

Energy and utilities

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Cosmin Bălan

Legal manager | Groupama Asigurari Romania

Insurance

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Cosmin Bonea

Legal manager | AstraZeneca

Healthcare

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Cosmin Vinatoru

Central Eastern Europe general secretary director | Danone

Food, beverages and tobacco

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Cristian Buzan

Executive vice president (deputy CEO) | Engie Romania

Energy and utilities

Cristian is leading the RES activities and has been head of legal, IT, digital and innovation, and business development of ENGIE Romania since 2021.   Previously, he was managing director of...

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Cristina Iancu

Legal director | Transgaz

Energy and utilities

Cristina Iancu is currently holding the position of legal director within the Romanian National Gas Transmission Company Transgaz.   Born in 1985, she graduated with a BA in Law at...

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Cristina-Dalia Oproiu

Manager of legal department | OMNIASIG Vienna Insurance Group

Insurance

Cristina-Elena Pintilie Nasturas

South-East subregion legal counsel | DS Smith

Materials and mining

Cristina started her career as a litigation lawyer immediately after graduation in a well reputed Romanian law firm. After several years as a litigator, Cristina made a bold move as...

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Daniela Bulacu

Chief of legal department | Ringier Romania

Sports and media

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Denisa Gogorita

Legal director member of the board of directors | RetuRO

Transport and infrastructure

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Diana Muresan

Head of legal and secretariat general department | Bucharest Stock Exchange

Financials

Dragos Mihai

Deputy legal director | Banca Transilvania

Financials

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Elena Iacob

Head of legal and compliance | Alliance Healthcare Romania

Healthcare

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Emanuela Mazilu-Merer

Head of legal, regulatory and public affairs | MOL Romania

Energy and utilities

Emanuela has more than 20 years of expertise in the legal field, she has been handling legal and compliance for MOL Romania for almost 10 years and regulatory and public...

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Emilia Lorincz

Head of legal and compliance division | Allianz Tiriac Asigurari

Insurance

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Emilia Stanciu

Head of legal | REWE România

Consumer products

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Filip Neagu

General counsel | OMV Petrom

Energy and utilities

Florina Mariana Homeghiu

Deputy group legal counsel | Photon Energy Romania

Energy and utilities

Florina Mariana Homeghiu is the deputy group legal counsel and manages the legal affairs of Photon Energy Group in Romania. She has over 15 years of experience and is a...

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Florina Tănase

Legal, HR, transformation and governance officer | Telekom Romania Mobile

Telecommunication services

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Gabriel Marcu

Legal director | Generali Romania

Insurance

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Gabriela Popescu

Corporate, external and legal affairs head - Central Europe | Microsoft

Information technology

George Mihai Popa

Legal and compliance director | E.ON Romania

Energy and utilities

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Horia Grigorescu

Chief legal officer | Tesla Group

Energy and utilities

Horia Grigorescu serves as the chief legal officer at Tesla Group, where he plays a crucial role in linking legal governance with technological aspirations in the high-tech energy sector. His...

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Ioana Regenbogen

Head of legal and corporate affairs | ING Bank Romania

Financials

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Ionuţ-Alexandru Anghel

Group legal counsel | Ericsson

Information technology

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Iulia Dobrescu

Head of legal | Ursus Breweries

Food, beverages and tobacco

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Iulian Gânju

Head of legal department | Iulius Group

Consumer products

Iulian Ganju is the head of the legal department for the IULIUS group of companies, a real estate developer and operator specialising in mixed-use urban regeneration projects based in Romania....

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Laura Rudnyanszky

Chief legal officer | Teleperformance

Telecommunication services

Laura Rudnyanszky possesses an LLB in Law, an LLB in Management, and an LLM in International Private Law. Laura is proficient in English, Spanish, and Hungarian. She has been an...

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Lucian Miulescu

Senior legal counsel | Orange Romania Communications

Telecommunication services

Lucian Miulescu is a seasoned corporate generalist attorney with a wealth of in-house legal experience. Specialised in dispute resolution, contract drafting, and legal advice across various domains, including Business Law,...

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Maria Muresan

Legal and compliance director BA Europe East large markets | Novo Nordisk

Healthcare

Marian Radu

Group general counsel | Vrancart

Materials and mining

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Marin Teodora-Mihaela

Head of legal department | Anchor Group

Energy and utilities

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Marius Berariu

Legal department chief | Engie Romania

Energy and utilities

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Mateeas Anne Marie

Country legal head | Novartis

Healthcare

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Mihaela Dumitrache

Head of legal department | Carrefour România

Consumer products

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Mihaela Jurubita

Senior legal advisor | Romcarbon

Energy and utilities

Mihaela Racles

Legal compliance director | Profi Rom Food

Food, beverages and tobacco

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Mihaela Scarlatescu

Head of legal | Farmexim

Healthcare

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Mihaela Tanasa

Legal director | Lactalis Group Romania

Food, beverages and tobacco

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Mihaela Ciobanescu

Associate director legal affairs | Teva Pharmaceuticals Romania

Healthcare

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Mihaela Drăgoi

Head of legal department | Romaero

Industrials and real estate

Mihai Rotaru

Deputy legal director – head of legal consultancy department | Banca Transilvania

Financials

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Mihai Selegean

Deputy CEO - head of legal and administrative | BRD - Groupe Societe Generale

Financials

Minerva Ionita

Head of legal and compliance department | Arctic

Consumer products

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Mirela (Catana) Balanoiu

Head of legal department | Schaeffler Romania

Materials and mining

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Moby Henke

Group legal director | KMG/Rompetrol

Energy and utilities

Monica Mihaila

Legal department manager | CEZ Romania

Energy and utilities

Monica Mihaila has been coordinating the legal activities of all CEZ Group companies in Romania as the manager of the legal department since 2017. Monica has 18 years of experience...

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Nicoleta Ionescu

Legal and compliance manager | eMAG

Information technology

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Oana Marinescu

Legal director | ALTEX Romania

Consumer products

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Octavia Malene

Legal director | Tiriac Holdings

Commercial and professional services

Oleg Roibu

General counsel | eMAG

Information technology

Oleg Roibu holds the position of general counsel of eMAG Group, where he oversees the group’s legal, public policy, and sustainability efforts across Central and Eastern Europe and in Brussels....

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Ovidiu Giurescu

Head of legal | Siemens Energy

Information technology

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Paula Cristea- Bendescu

Country legal manager | Wienerberger România

Materials and mining

Raluca Alexandru

Legal and compliance director | Coca-Cola HBC

Food, beverages and tobacco

Raluca Alexandru serves as the legal and compliance director at Coca-Cola HBC Romania, the largest beverage company in the market and the second largest in the local FMCG industry, with...

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Raluca Gheorghiu

Head of legal operations and innovation (senior director) | UiPath

Information technology

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Razvan Costi

Senior counsel | Philip Morris International

Food

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Robert Ioniță

General counsel | NEPI Rockcastle

Industrials and real estate

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Robert Robescu

Head legal counsel | REBU/Retim

Sports and media

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Romanita Neacsu

Head of legal and compliance | ROMCIM a CRH Company

Materials and mining

Romina Nicula

Head of legal operations | Viarom Construct

Industrials and real estate

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Roua Cot

Legal director | Vast Resources - Romania

Materials and mining

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Roxana Bumbac-Buture

General counsel | Nestlé Romania

Food, beverages and tobacco

Roxana Bumbac-Buture is a multidisciplinary lawyer with expertise in both consultancy and litigation. Roxana possesses over 12 years of experience and is a qualified lawyer within the Bucharest Bar. Roxana...

Roxana Vasiliu

Head of the legal department | Premier Restaurante Romania

Hotels, restaurants and leisure

After more than 25 years of experience in the law field, Roxana Vasiliu joined in October 2016 McDonald’s team in Romania as Legal director. She started her career as a lawyer member of...

Ruxandra Macelaru

Head of legal | Forte Partners

Industrials and real estate

Ruxandra has been general counsel of the Romanian real estate landmark developer, Forte Partners for the last seven years. She has over 20 years of experience and is qualified in...

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Simona Opris

Legal director | First Bank

Financials

Sonia-Denisa Fedorovici-Jude

Head of legal and general partner | Roca X Management

Commercial and professional services

Sonia Fedorovici is a general partner and the head of legal at Roca X — the largest privately funded Venture Capital Fund in Romania. Under her guidance the fund’s management...

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Sorin-Alexandru Cristea

Legal and compliance director | Haleon

Commercial and professional services

Accomplished legal professional with over 20 years of experience across the healthcare, FMCG and technology sectors; managing legal operations and leading teams of in-house and external lawyers across multiple jurisdictions...

Sorina Ilie

Head of legal department | Agrana Romania

Food, beverages and tobacco

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Ștefania Andruhovici

Head of legal | Electrica

Energy and utilities

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Ștefania Surdu

Legal manager | Smithfield

Food

Veaceslav Grosu

General counsel Romania and Moldova, compliance officer and board secretary | Holcim Romania

Materials and mining

Team size: Seven  Veaceslav Grosu has over 19 years of experience gained primarily in a Swiss multinational company.   Veaceslav provides the entire spectrum of day-by-day advice on competition, compliance, labour,...

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Veronica Lupu

Legal manager, DPO | DRÄXLMAIER Group

Consumer products

Victor Savi-Nims

Chief legal officer | One United Properties

Industrials and real estate

Victor Savi-Nims currently serves as the chief legal officer (CLO) of One United Properties, the leading green investor and developer of residential, mixed-use, and commercial real estate in Bucharest, Romania....

Voichița Crăciun

Head of legal and compliance | PAID Romania

Insurance

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The Legal 500 is delighted to recognise and gather the most exceptional corporate counsel in Romania, a feat only the GC Powerlist could achieve. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the accomplished general counsel who have rightfully earned their places on the final list. We are proud to be able to effectively showcase the full spectrum of top-notch corporate counsel present in the country.

Our in-depth interviews have provided insights into the world of contemporary high-level corporate counsel in the country. General counsel from various organisations have shared their perspectives on a wide range of topics, including the far-reaching effects of technological advancements, the state of legal representation in Romania, and their vision for the future of the general counsel role. Notably, Mateeas Anne Marie, Country Legal Head at Novartis Pharma Services Romania, envisions a significant transformation for in-house legal teams in the foreseeable future: ‘In the foreseeable future, in-house legal teams are poised for a substantial transformation. Legal professionals will harness advanced technology to streamline daily tasks efficiently. Emphasis will be on critical areas such as data privacy and cybersecurity, maintaining strict compliance within a constantly changing regulatory landscape. Collaboration will be central as legal teams forge strategic partnerships across organisational departments, aligning their work with broader objectives. Remote work will remain a vital aspect of operations, optimising productivity through digital tools and virtual communication. In this dynamic environment, legal professionals will diversify their skill sets, assume leadership roles in ethical initiatives, and address global challenges adeptly. Exploring innovative service models will enhance cost efficiency, while flexible work arrangements will adapt to evolving professional requirements. In-house legal teams, blending innovation with professionalism, are poised to shape a future where legal excellence and organisational success are seamlessly intertwined.

The dedication of general counsel in Romania to embracing change and digital innovation is evident, George Mihai Popa, Legal and Compliance Director at E.ON Romania, told us: ‘Implementing a simplification tool for developing the contract flow within the organisation by transforming the process from the print approvals stage to the automatic flow, finalised with the extended electronic signature. In the previous company, the legal and compliance department struggled with many documents from which the commercial contracts represented the most relevant part. The aim of the process meant the drafting simplification, verifying and approval flow efficiency, which was developed with the internal IT department. The result consisted of a very efficient method for the company by reducing the time of approving the contracts and, at the same time, better control for the management over these processes. The cost of this solution was reduced due to the involvement of internal resources from legal and compliance departments in cooperation with the IT Department’. Innovation is, of course, key, but the core skill of a top general counsel, alongside legal expertise, is communicating good advice to the businesspeople in their organisations collaboratively, cooperating across the departments.

These interviews provide a captivating snapshot of Romania’s in-house legal community, offering valuable insights into the paths, achievements, and skills that define today’s top in-house legal counsel. I encourage readers to delve further into these conversations to gain a deeper understanding of what makes these professionals stand out.

Thank you to all the in-house lawyers who spoke to us as part of our research into this first-ever Romania edition of the GC Powerlist. Congratulations to all the general counsel who have rightfully earned their place among the top legal professionals in the country.

Sara Maggi| Deputy Editor – The Legal 500 GC Powerlist Series 

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We are delighted to present the most influential in-house lawyers and legal teams in Romania!

The inaugural edition of the GC Powerlist Romania highlights some of Romania’s most experienced GCs who excel at what they do, lead groundbreaking legal work and generally make a significant contribution to the success of their companies. They are not only great leaders, strategists and visionaries, but also valuable legal experts. They are mentors who build a positive culture, empower people to grow and develop, and guide their organisations in an ever-changing business environment. Through their dedication and hard work, they transform law and business every day.

We congratulate all the honourees on the GC Powerlist Romania and we are confident that more and more successful General Counsels and Chief Legal Officers will be recognised in future editions to give an even more complete picture of today’s legal talent.

Țuca Zbârcea & Asociații is proud to be the exclusive partner of The Legal 500 for its first GC Powerlist Romania 2023!

Tokyo Roundtable: Leveraging Carbon Markets for Achieving Net Zero in APAC: Insights from the US and EU 2024

The Legal 500 returned to Tokyo for a timely and extremely informative roundtable discussion alongside Jones Day on the future impact of carbon markets on the drive towards net zero in Asia and Japan. Tokyo-based Jones Day lawyers Ming-Yee Lin and Lukas Kratochvil were joined by the specialists who had flown in for the occasion: Paul Greening from the Singapore office, Dickson Chin of New York and Dan Howard of Jones Day’s Brisbane offices. From the in-house legal side, we were delighted to welcome 20 of Tokyo’s top counsel, including those representing large multinational companies and Sogo Shosha, major Japanese-headquartered conglomerates.

Paul Greening and Dan Howard opened proceedings by giving a run down on different carbon market structures around APAC, highlighting which approaches have already come into force and which may be on the horizon in the future which could affect the Japanese market. Throughout, the point was emphasised that companies in Japan will be dealing with further regulation on their carbon emissions over time as the push towards cast-iron sustainability goals intensifies.

Lin and Kratochvil gave their perspective on the ground in Tokyo as to how their client base is reacting to sustainability measures and how their expertise can allow businesses to find creative solutions to issues they have encountered when enacting strategy.

Dickson Chin drove the conversation home with a comprehensive global rundown of how carbon markets have developed in both the United States and Europe. Managing to provide both a detailed instruction on sophisticated financial instruments and practical strategies for deals, this section of the conversation was particularly remarked upon by those in attendance.

Networking and Q&A followed, with everyone in attendance being presented with an extensive information pack for them to refer to when explaining concepts to their business leaders.

The Legal 500 is delighted that we were able to have such an esteemed group of attendees at this hugely informative roundtable. We look forward to many more events in Tokyo in the future.