Cláudia Vaz de Lestapis

Cláudia Vaz de Lestapis has served as the Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary of J.M. Huber Corporation since January 2023. Vaz de Lestapis is a member of the Huber Management Council.

With nearly 25 years of experience at law firms and multinational corporations spanning the specialty chemicals, automotive and real estate services industries, she has a deep knowledge of the principles used to handle complex legal matters in an international setting.

Vaz de Lestapis previously served as Vice President & Assistant General Counsel for J.M. Huber Corporation starting in 2021. Her responsibilities included legal support for Corporate functions, such as Corporate Development; Environment, Health, Safety & Sustainability (EHS&S); Finance; IT and Treasury. She also served as a Director on the Management Board of Huber Engineered Materials (HEM) from 2021-2022.

Prior to this, she became General Counsel for CP Kelco in 2016, overseeing the legal support for the portfolio business at a global level. Vaz de Lestapis joined Huber in 2013 as Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA) Legal Director.

Before joining Huber, Vaz de Lestapis worked for over nine years as an in-house lawyer for multinational companies including Regus Plc (now IWG plc) and Delphi Corporation (now Aptiv) within the EMEA region. She began her career as a French business lawyer in banking and M&A with Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, where she practiced for five years.

Educated in France, the UK and the US, Vaz de Lestapis holds a Master’s degree in Business Law from the University of Paris XI and a Master of Laws from the Emory University School of Law. She is a licensed attorney of the State Bar of Georgia, Paris Bar and is a Solicitor of England and Wales. Vaz de Lestapis is fluent in Portuguese, Spanish, French and English.