NextGen in-house lawyers 2025
A new generation of in-house lawyers: the young talents redefining corporate legal counsel in the Iberian Peninsula
by ilaria iaquinta and glória paiva
They are the emerging leaders of Iberian in-house law: a new generation of corporate lawyers emerging with purpose, poised to shape the future of legal advisory services in Spain and Portugal. While many are still in their thirties—and others have only just turned forty—their impact on the market is already undeniable. These are professionals with a robust legal background, forged in high-pressure environments, who have earned the trust of their teams, senior management, and even the more established legal sector.
Their names have been discreetly recommended by partners at leading law firms and senior general counsel, in offthe-record conversations, as talents who are already making a difference within their organisations. Some are heading up entire legal departments; others, working within larger teams, stand out for their initiative, technical rigour, and ability to anticipate risks through a strategic, crossfunctional lens.
This generational shift is not merely a matter of age. In a landscape shaped by regulatory pressure, digital transformation, compliance, and sustainability, these lawyers are stepping into a new kind of prominence. They bring agility, critical thinking, tech fluency, and a business acumen that goes far beyond the strictly legal. Rather than replicating inherited models, they are redefining the role of the in-house lawyer with new language, tools, and priorities.
What follows is a selection of young in-house lawyers making their mark on the Iberian legal scene. This is not a ranking or league table, but a qualitative recognition based on market observation and the editorial judgement of Iberian Lawyer. The profiles are listed alphabetically and by country.
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