Romania 2024
Supported by the Association of Corporate Counsel
Legal manager, Romania, Moldova, Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia | STRABAG
Legal director, directorate member | RetuRO Sistem Garantie Returnare
Head of legal, regulatory and public affairs | MOL Romania
Head of legal, pole agricole, Romania, Turkey, Croatia and Hungary | IPSO Agricultură
Legal counsel, Romania and Central and Southern Europe | Michelin Romania
Manager legal department, litigation and general corporate affairs | ING Bank Romania
Legal and compliance lead, CEE | Haleon
General counsel, compliance officer and board secretary | Holcim Romania
Assistant general counsel, legal compliance, EMEA | Genpact
Director of legal and public affairs department and member of the executive committee | Up Romania
Head of legal and secretariat general department | Bucharest Stock Exchange
Corporate, external and legal affairs lead, Central Europe | Microsoft
Head of legal and general partner | Roca X Management
Following the tremendous success of last year’s inaugural edition, the Legal 500 is delighted to present the GC Powerlist: Romania 2024. This publication is dedicated to honouring and celebrating the outstanding achievements of the nation’s leading corporate counsel.
The GC Powerlist highlights the pivotal role that in-house legal professionals play in driving business success across Romania. It underscores their expertise, leadership, and unwavering commitment to excellence. This year’s edition places a spotlight on their remarkable accomplishments and innovative strategies as they navigate the country’s dynamic legal landscape. From addressing regional conflicts and embracing technological advancements to fostering diversity and inclusion and strengthening partnerships with business stakeholders, the honorees demonstrate exceptional adaptability and vision.
Inside this edition, readers will discover in-depth profiles and exclusive interviews with some of the most influential and respected general counsel in Romania, spanning diverse industries. These professionals consistently exemplify their ability to craft legal strategies, mitigate risks, and offer strategic guidance that propels their organisations forward. Their success stories are a source of inspiration for the broader legal community, illustrating the transformative impact in-house lawyers can have on business strategy and organisational growth.
Beyond individual achievements, this publication delves into critical themes and challenges shaping the corporate legal sector. It provides valuable insights and thought-provoking discussions, offering a comprehensive overview of Romania’s legal landscape. Through these narratives, readers will gain a deeper understanding of the extraordinary contributions of the in-house legal community.
We extend our sincere congratulations and gratitude to everyone featured in this year’s GC Powerlist: Romania. Their dedication and success exemplify the very best of the country’s legal talent. It is with great pride that we present this distinguished list of the country’s most exceptional and diligent in-house lawyers.
Francisco Faria e Castro  |  Research Editor  |  GC Powerlist Series
We are delighted to present the most influential in-house lawyers and legal teams in Romania!
The second 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 GC Powerlist Romania 2024!
On 26 March, Legal 500 partnered with Portuguese law firm PLMJ to bring its renewed sustainability‑focused conference series to Lisbon with the ESG Forum: Portugal 2026. The half‑day event gathered senior leaders from the legal, financial, energy and sustainability spheres for a concentrated programme hosted at PLMJ’s offices. Throughout the sessions, speakers explored the regulatory, governance and enforcement forces reshaping ESG strategy in Portugal, offering a clear cross‑sector perspective on how organisations are adapting to an increasingly complex and fast‑moving landscape.
The event opened with some welcome remarks from Legal 500 editor Francisco Castro, who emphasised the value of events that bring the in‑house community together to learn, exchange experiences and build meaningful professional networks. In his welcome address, he highlighted the growing complexity of ESG obligations across Europe and the increasing pressure on organisations to adopt integrated, business‑wide approaches to compliance, risk management and strategic planning. By underscoring the need for practical, grounded discussion rather than abstract theory, he set the tone for a programme designed to deliver actionable insight and foster collaboration among practitioners navigating a rapidly evolving ESG landscape.
Followed an opening brief delivered by PLMJ’s Managing Partner, Bruno Ferreira, who provided a concise yet comprehensive overview of the ESG priorities defining Portugal in 2026. He outlined the expanding influence of EU regulatory frameworks on corporate reporting, due diligence and governance, noting how these requirements are reshaping expectations around data quality, transparency and accountability. His remarks positioned ESG not as a peripheral concern but as a central driver of corporate behaviour, capital flows and long‑term competitiveness in the Portuguese market.
The first panel, moderated by João Marques Mendes, Partner at PLMJ and joined by Cláudia Teixeira de Almeida of Banco BPI, Nuno Moraes Bastos of GALP and Diogo Graça of REN, explored how corporate governance and sustainable finance are shaping Portugal’s energy transition. The discussion examined how boards and executive teams are adapting oversight structures to manage transition‑related risks and how legal, compliance, sustainability and procurement functions are increasingly intertwined in project governance. Panellists described the growing influence of financing structures on project execution, noting that lenders’ expectations around ESG metrics, contractor performance and transparency now shape governance decisions from the earliest stages. They also addressed the operational constraints that continue to challenge Portugal’s transition ambitions, including permitting timelines, grid capacity limitations and delivery risk. While acknowledging the complexity of EU‑level frameworks, speakers emphasised that these standards also present strategic opportunities to harmonise practices, unlock investment and strengthen Portugal’s competitive position in the energy transition.
Following a short break, the second panel turned to litigation, liability and the emerging enforcement era surrounding sustainability claims. Moderated by Raquel Azevedo, Partner at PLMJ and featuring contributions from Carla Góis Coelho of PLMJ, Carlos Martins Ferreira of Jerónimo Martins, Filipa Rodrigues Carmona of Caixa Geral de Depósitos and Céline da Graça Pires of NOVA, the session examined the rapid rise of ESG‑driven disputes, investigations and regulatory actions. Panellists discussed the typical trigger points for scrutiny, ranging from sustainability reports and corporate websites to marketing materials and investor presentations, and highlighted how these touchpoints are increasingly tested by regulators, competitors, consumers and NGOs. They analysed recent case law developments and their implications for Portuguese organisations, noting the emergence of more stringent evidentiary standards around disclosures and due‑diligence obligations. The panel concluded that sustainability claims can no longer be treated as aspirational messaging; they now carry the weight of binding legal obligations, requiring more rigorous internal validation and cross‑functional coordination.
The forum concluded with closing remarks from Francisco Castro, after which attendees were invited to continue their conversations over a light lunch, providing a relaxed setting to deepen connections and reflect on the themes explored throughout the morning.
Legal 500 extends its thanks to PLMJ for its collaboration in bringing this conference format to Portugal’s in‑house legal community. The team looks forward to returning soon for the launch event of this year’s GC Powerlist: Portugal.
