General counsel and head of legal, compliance, and corporate affairs | Pharmacity
Head of legal, compliance and government affairs | Asia Clean Capital Vietnam
Director of legal and compliance division | MB Shinsei Finance (Mcredit)
Head of legal and contract manager | Ricons Construction Investment
Senior vice president - head of legal | Emergent Property Services Vietnam
Head of legal - Vietnam and Asia Area frontier markets / director of legal affairs and organisational capacity development | AstraZeneca
Chief legal officer | Hoi An South Development
We are beyond thrilled to announce the second edition of the GC Powerlist: Vietnam, building on the success of last year’s inaugural publication. This edition highlights a whole new plethora of accomplished in-house lawyers in one of the world’s foremost high-growth and high-potential economies. As well as celebrating their exceptional achievements and innovative approaches as they navigate the complexities of the legal landscape, we delve into what creative strategies they have used to navigate the unique challenges they face in the Vietnamese business context.
The in-house legal community in Vietnam expands its knowledge base every day, with local lawyers increasingly taking on prominent roles internationally. The GC Powerlist Team is proud to foster connections within this vibrant and positive in-house legal community.
Inside this edition, you will find in-depth profiles and exclusive interviews with influential general counsel from a variety of industries. These professionals have consistently demonstrated their capacity to shape legal strategies, mitigate risks, and provide invaluable guidance to their organisations. Their accomplishments inspire the legal community, showcasing the significant impact that in-house lawyers can have on business strategies and overall success.
As in-house counsel play a more active role in decision-making, they are well-positioned to advise on building strong partnerships. Tong Thi Thu Thao, head of legal and contract manager at Ricons Construction Investment, shares insights on collaboration: “The key to successful partnerships is being proactive, maintaining effective communication, and engaging early to align legal and business objectives. This means considering commercial factors, rather than focusing solely on legal issues. In-house legal counsel should actively understand their company’s operations and strategic goals, regularly update on relevant regulations, and provide timely support, even without specific requests from management. By adopting a proactive approach and ensuring transparency in all communications, the legal team builds trust and fosters a shared goal of mutual growth. Legal leaders should position their function as facilitators, helping the business achieve its objectives within the legal framework.”
This publication addresses various topics and challenges unique to the in-house legal sector. We invite you to explore the GC Powerlist: Vietnam 2024 and discover the remarkable stories of these exceptional professionals. Through their experiences and insights, we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of Vietnam’s in-house legal landscape, highlighting the invaluable contributions of the nation’s top corporate lawyers.
On behalf of The Legal 500, I extend my deepest gratitude to all the featured in-house lawyers for their valuable contributions and for sharing their journeys with us. It is my pleasure to present this distinguished collection, showcasing Vietnam’s most exceptional and dedicated in-house legal talent.
Joe Boswell
Global editor – GC Powerlist
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.