Senior vice president and group general counsel | GN Store Nord
Executive vice president, group legal, strategy and M&A | FLSmidth
General counsel and head of corporate affairs | A.P. Møller – Mærsk
Deputy general counsel, head of legal, VP | A.P. Møller – Mærsk
General counsel and head of legal, private markets | PensionDanmark
Group general counsel, global legal, risk and compliance | LEO Pharma
Group general counsel, vice president, legal, compliance and risk management | Milestone Systems
Chief legal counsel, Denmark and counsel for Europe region projects | G4S Security Services
Group general counsel, senior vice president, group legal, IP and business ethics | Coloplast
Legal lead, Northern Europe Region | Wipro Technologies & Designit
Head of legal, international and data privacy | Arla Foods
Vice president, legal and regulatory | Hi3G Denmark (3)
Chief legal officer and head of CEO office | ATP Ejendomme
General counsel and chief human resources officer | Copenhagen Business School
Group chief legal and compliance officer | Unifeeder
Chief legal officer and senior vice president | Novo Nordisk Foundation
Chief legal adviser | DMI - Danmarks Meteorologiske Institut
Senior vice president, general counsel and company secretary | Zealand Pharma
Group vice president, chief legal officer, head of M&A and compliance | DLG
Group senior vice president, legal, risk and compliance | Vestas Wind Systems
On behalf of The Legal 500, we are delighted to extend a warm and enthusiastic welcome to the GC Powerlist: Denmark 2024. Following the success of last year’s Teams edition, this year, we shift our focus to celebrate the exceptional individuals who have elevated the in-house legal role to new heights. We proudly showcase the most dedicated corporate lawyers in the country, spotlighting their remarkable achievements over the past year.
This publication unveils the remarkable contributions made by an exclusive group of general counsel, legal heads, and other pivotal in-house legal figures, underscoring their expertise, leadership, and steadfast dedication to excellence. This latest edition exemplifies outstanding achievements by these select individuals as they adeptly navigate Denmark’s legal terrain, tackling challenges such as integrating legal tech innovations, navigating shifting political and economic dynamics, fostering diversity and inclusion, and as they play a pivotal role in advising closer to C-level management and influencing executive decisions within their respective companies and organisations.
You’ll discover in-depth profiles and exclusive interviews with the most influential and esteemed in-house lawyers spanning various industries in Denmark. Their demonstrated ability to navigate legal strategies, mitigate risks, and provide strategic guidance to their companies is prominently showcased. Their achievements not only inspire the legal community but also underscore the profound impact that in-house lawyers can have on their organisations’ business strategies and overall success.
The research and interviews done during the development of this publication bring to light several key findings, including the resilience and adaptability of legal departments during times of political and economical uncertainty in Europe, but also other more positive notes observations, such as the inevitable and crucial integration of technology – particularly artificial intelligence – into the daily responsibilities of every in-house lawyer. Yvonne Larson, Head of Legal at Signify, emphasises this shift, stating, “[a]s technology rapidly advances, especially in the area of artificial intelligence, the role of the in-house lawyer is again evolving.” Recognising the importance of this evolution, Mads Juul Eegholm, Chief Legal Officer and Vice President at Velliv, Pension & Livsforsikring, underscores the necessity for proficiency in emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, to leverage innovative solutions for legal operations, risk assessment, compliance monitoring, and strategic decision-making.”
Another notable reflection from this publication’s discoveries is the increasing significance of the role of in-house counsel within companies and organisations, as they assume greater proximity to C-level management and play pivotal roles in executive and business decision-making processes. As stated by Andreas Holmstroem Soerensen, Head of Legal at PFA Pension, “[w]e have for several years focused on stakeholder management and our strategic advice to directors and C-level […] and we are involved in strategic project initiated by our business counterparts, both product developments and customer initiatives, as well as digital infrastructure programs and supplier due diligence.” Another clear testimony of this is provided by Eva Møland Tørsleff, Chief Legal Officer at Heimstaden who further emphasises this trend, noting how her team has “fostered closer collaboration by being physically present and accessible, conducting education across all levels, and specifically equipping our C-level executives with the necessary legal insights.”
Within this edition, we comprehensively address numerous pertinent subjects and unique challenges, inviting you to explore The GC Powerlist: Denmark 2024 and uncover the remarkable narratives of these exceptional individuals. Through their experiences and perspectives, our aim is to provide a comprehensive depiction of the legal landscape in the country and highlight the invaluable contributions of in-house legal departments.
We extend our sincere gratitude and congratulations to all the featured in-house lawyers for their valuable contributions and for graciously sharing their journeys with us. It is with great pleasure that we present to you this distinguished list of Denmark’s most exceptional, diligent, and celebrated in-house lawyers.
Francisco Faria e Castro | Editorial lead | GC Powerlist Series
The Legal 500’s 2024 GC Powerlist: Thailand, the much-anticipated second edition, built on our wildly successful 2023 event to create an even more exclusive celebration of the top in-house legal counsel in the country. At a time when the Thai economy continues to grow, attracting new legal talent while established names add to their significant experience, we were delighted to welcome a star-studded list of guests to the Waldorf Astoria Bangkok’s spacious Camellia Ballroom.
Over 150 attendees were present, including general counsel from the country’s top companies and senior and managing partners from our four law firm sponsors: Chandler MHM, Herbert Smith Freehills, Kudun & Partners, and Tilleke & Gibbins. Also in attendance were a selection of our 2024 Rising Star In-house Counsel, chosen for their achievements at a relatively early stage in their careers, representatives from our event sponsor Robert Walters, and our guests of honor, including government officials.
After a welcome video from senior partners at Chandler MHM, Herbert Smith Freehills, Kudun & Partners, and Tilleke & Gibbins, we moved on to our keynote speeches. Wallaya Kaewrungruang, chief legal and compliance officer of SCBX, spoke about recent changes to the general counsel role in Thailand and touched on international considerations for the Thai business sector. Visitsak Arunsuratpakdee of True Corporation then took the stage to discuss the work that the Thai Corporate Counsel Association has done since its inception last year to bring the legal community together.
The award ceremony followed, with those fortunate enough to be included in the 2024 edition welcomed to the stage to receive their accolades. Inviting them were Dean Pareena Srivanit of the Faculty of Law at Chulalongkorn University and Dean Pokpong Srisanit of Thammasat University, who have known many of the awardees since the start of their careers.
The celebrations carried on long into the night, with new connections made and old friends reunited.
Thank you to Chandler MHM, Herbert Smith Freehills, Kudun & Partners, Tilleke & Gibbins, and Robert Walters for partnering with us on this project, and to the Thai CCA for their invaluable support. Most importantly, congratulations to everyone featured in the 2024 edition; your inclusion is entirely due to your hard work throughout your careers. We look forward to 2025, when we will strive to create an even more expansive representation of the top in-house lawyers in Thailand.
