Team size: 10

How do you feel the pandemic has changed the world of work for in-house counsel and the function of the general counsel?

The pandemic has changed the work of the in-house counsel in several ways. Businesses have been turned upside down impacting the work of the in-house counsel. In particular, the in-house function has needed to ensure business conduct in a challenging environment with lockdowns, customer bankruptcy, governmental aid packages, changes in consumer behaviour, securing procurement and production lines and logistics, employees, and changes in the way we work together. We have been able to make multiple acquisitions during the pandemic, which have been essential in supporting the growth of our business. It has required legal support in the integration processes. As general counsel, the pandemic has required me to step up and be a close partner to our executive management and engage actively in re-defining the strategy and operations continuously — it has been crucial to helping the development of my business acumen.

What will be the main focus for the company in the next 12 months and how do you intend to assist with this?

The focus of the business will be to embrace and utilise the changes in the markets in which we are operating. We can still see changes due to the pandemic on a day-to-day basis and long-term changes requiring strong adaptive skillsets — such as overcoming challenges in the overall planning and supply chain, consumer preference, and eventual restrictions. At the same time, Royal Unibrew will focus on being agile and grasp new opportunities for our customers and shareholders.

What do you feel are the pros and cons of an in-house legal role compared to a private practice one?

Being an in-house counsel brings me close to the business and deeply involved in its operations. Being a trusted advisor to the board of directors and all the organisational levels implies high accountability and expertise that covers various business-related matters such as M&A, contracts, compliance, risk management, and CSR. In-house you are not as specialised as in private practice because what matters the most is understanding and specialising in commercial decisions and being able to fix strategic goals for the business. Those are the stronger pros for a role in-house, and in my perspective, those are the key drivers to be and remain the general counsel of a large-cap Danish listed company.