United Kingdom: Hall of Fame 2026
Supported by the Association of Corporate Counsel
General counsel and company secretary | British Airways
Chief operating officer - legal, governance and corporate affairs | Rio Tinto
General counsel and company secretary | Coca-Cola Europacific Partners plc
Chief risk officer, global general counsel for investments, and head, EMEA | The Carlyle Group
General counsel, compliance officer and data protection officer | E.ON UK Legal, Compliance and Data Protection Team
General counsel and compliance officer | Nestlé UK and Ireland
Director of legal services and company secretary | Associated British Foods
Group general counsel, director of regulatory affairs | BT
Managing director and general counsel, global head of services, legal | Citi
Director of legal - corporate & deputy secretary to the Board | Virgin Media O2
Legal and corporate affairs director | Anglo American (soon to be Anglo Teck)
It is my honour to announce the launch of Legal 500’s inaugural GC Powerlist UK: Hall of Fame, in partnership with Lexis Nexis. This exclusive group is made up of senior in-house counsel who have consistently stood out throughout our UK research over several consecutive years.
Our Hall of Fame honourees boast extensive experience, with careers spanning the world’s largest financial institutions, government bodies, tech giants, and media conglomerates. This impressive cohort represents more than just legal advisors; they are integrated business partners. As Simon Croxford, General Counsel, investment bank and EMEA at UBS Group Legal UK, reminds us, ‘a good lawyer will go beyond an advisory role’. For Croxford, this means being ‘a strategic partner who… is at the table for key discussions with stakeholders’.
GCs are increasingly relied upon to provide advice that is both legally and commercially viable, remaining compliant while also driving growth. ‘Ultimately, they act as a trusted advisor to the Board and the business, enabling the business to grow while remaining legally and ethically sound’, says Alison Yapp, group general counsel and company secretary at Compass Group.
But the influence of in-house counsel extends beyond legal or commercial objectives. Mark Maurice-Jones, General Counsel and Compliance Officer at Nestlé UK and Ireland, sees ‘an increasing role for in-house counsel in driving forward the company’s purpose and values’. Alongside our other Hall of Famers, Maurice-Jones points to the impact that GCs have on company culture and employee wellbeing. He highlights the work that in-house leaders can do in supporting their organisations’ core values, from ESG and human rights initiatives to fostering an ethical working environment.
Legal 500 is proud to celebrate such an innovative and influential group of in-house counsel, who play an integral role in driving progress both within the legal world and beyond.
Isabel Caine
Editor – Corporate Counsel
Legal 500
On Tuesday, Legal 500 had the pleasure of welcoming this year’s cohort to the GC Powerlist Spain 2026 launch event in Madrid: an evening celebrating the country’s in-house excellence shaping the legal landscape of today and tomorrow.
The evening, hosted in partnership with DLA Piper, brought together at Club Matador some of the most renowned names in the Spanish in-house legal market. This year’s reception welcomed senior in-house professionals from across industries, representing some of the most prominent companies in the country.
Carmen Godoy, lead editor of this edition of the GC Powerlist: Spain at The Legal 500, opened the evening by addressing more than 100 corporate legal professionals in attendance. In her remarks, Godoy highlighted how the research revealed Spain’s in-house legal community to be increasingly strategic and forward-looking. General counsel are evolving into key business partners, embracing innovation with pragmatism while providing resilience and stability in uncertain environments. With a strong focus on governance, compliance, sustainability, and leadership, these findings reflect a community that is strategic, innovative, and deeply human.
Following Godoy, Francisco Cerezo and César Herrero, managing partners of DLA Piper and hosts of the evening, addressed the audience, highlighting the importance of promoting spaces for exchange and recognition within the in-house legal community shaping modern business.
After their remarks, Carmen Godoy and David Freeman, on behalf of The Legal 500, proceeded with the certificate ceremony, during which each Powerlister was invited to the stage to collect their certificate.
This year’s GC Powerlist event in Madrid served as an excellent opportunity for awardees to connect and exchange reflections with their professional peers and the Legal 500 team.
On behalf of the entire team at The Legal 500, we extend our warmest congratulations to all those included in this edition of the GC Powerlist: Spain. You stand as an example of the talent, leadership, and vision driving the evolution of the general counsel role in the country.
We would also like to take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude to DLA Piper, our sponsor, for joining us in recognising the exceptional talent driving progress across Spain’s legal profession. And, of course, to each of the honourees who shared their time and insights with us. It has been a privilege to share your stories and celebrate the enduring impact you make every day.
