Team size: About 50 people

What are the most significant cases or transactions that your legal team has recently been involved in?

Our teams have played a paramount role in getting the organisation through a round of redundancies in a respectful way. Furthermore, we have been involved in negotiating contracts regarding research financing, with a focus on both securing our research and making it available to the public (necessitating the consideration of IP, GDPR and general contractual issues). We also advise on public law matters and are involved in navigating how CBS will adapt to the new reforms to the educational system in Denmark.

What would you say are the unique qualities required to be successful as an in-house lawyer in your industry?

I would say that all in-house lawyers need business acumen, to go beyond mere legal expertise and contribute strategically. We must work cross-functionally, look at business objectives and exercise good judgement that takes the legal framework, risks, the organisational culture, and ethical implications into consideration.

When all that is done, we must also be able to communicate in a meaningful and comprehensible way. While I do believe there are many talented lawyers, what makes the difference is the ability to communicate in a relatable manner; here, I find storytelling very useful.

How have you fostered a closer collaboration between the legal department and your business counterparts?

I believe closer collaboration requires that we as in-house lawyers try to understand the business side and their goals. This is best done through dialogue, both at a managerial level and between employees. I have therefore ensured a legal department that engages in dialogue at many levels, and out of these dialogues we can proactively identify risks, create meaningful workflows across the organisation, develop useful templates and build the needed confidentiality.

Do you have a cause, business-related or otherwise, that you are passionate about?

I am passionate about storytelling. I believe storytelling to be a powerful tool for in-house lawyers, as we need understand our business, build relationships, and communicate often complex legal issues in a relatable manner. Stories can do all that! I also do storytelling on a semi-professional level outside my legal work because it is a powerful way of connecting with people.