Team size: Four

Key team members: Jakob Aurelius, Johanna Edwald, Nick van Heyningen, Lucija Poledica

Major legal advisers: Accura Advokatpartnerselskab

Can you give an idea of the most significant cases or transactions that your legal team has recently been involved in?

Podimo secured €58.6m in an up round of funding in September 2022, following Series A and Series B rounds in 2020 and 2021, respectively.

In 2022, our legal team was involved in launching Podimo in Finland and the Netherlands – spearheaded the acquisition of Dag en Nacht Media. Earlier this year, we lined up for the expansion of Podimo’s footprint into Mexico and the UK.

It is important for us to form strong collaborations with local lawyers to assist us in the market-entry and establishment of the Podimo service, brand, and operations; and to help us to stay on top of local legal requirements and market developments over time.

Podimo’s growth continues in 2023. Hence, our legal team has focused on creating a foundation that allows us to scale up our operations alongside company growth. Building on our collaborations with other teams, developing relationships with external advisors and exploring innovative legal solutions to stay effective as we grow globally will remain key focuses of ours.

Looking forward, what technological advancements do you feel will impact the role of in-house legal teams in the future the most?

Advancements in automation and artificial intelligence will play a crucial role in transforming the way in-house legal teams operate. These technologies are expected to simplify legal processes and enable legal teams to efficiently manage large volumes of data – advancements that help lawyers focus their work make them available for more strategic responsibilities.

We implemented end-to-end contract automation solutions to increase speed and efficiency, reducing the time spent on repetitive tasks. We also incorporated AI-powered legal research tools that allow us to search vast amounts of legal data and identify relevant cases and statutes more quickly and accurately than ever before. We are committed to embracing these technologies and exploring innovative ways to use them to provide better legal services to our clients and stakeholders.

Adopting these technologies will also bring changes in the way legal work is done. As legal professionals, we will need to develop our skills and adapt to new ways of working to fully realise the benefits of these technologies.

What can law firms do to improve their service to the legal department?

Legal teams at start-ups and scale-ups in the media and tech industries need advisors who understand their business model, products, and services. It is important for the law firm to be responsive, available, and able to provide practical and tailored advice that meets our specific needs and circumstances. To achieve this, building a strong and lasting relationship between the in-house legal team and the law firm is crucial.

Collaboration beyond specific tasks can facilitate and empower this relationship. By sharing knowledge and resources and being responsive to business needs, both parties can gain a better understanding of each other’s needs and work together more effectively.

The key to a successful relationship between in-house legal teams and law firms is effective communication, collaboration, and a shared commitment to achieving our business goals.

How do you suggest in-house departments build strong relationships with business partners?

Legal teams should understand colleagues’ and partners’ needs, concerns, and goals. They should be active listeners, responsive, proactive, and aim to provide to-the-point advice. Establishing and being mindful to maintain active and clear communication channels with business teams builds trust and confidence in their ability to provide timely and accurate advice.

Teams can leverage technology to streamline legal processes and improve efficiency in collaboration with their colleagues. For example, document automation software can be used to create work processes to reduce the time and resources spent on more repetitive tasks.

They can build confidence in quick and accurate work by establishing a culture of compliance amongst all teams and maintaining high standards of ethical and legal conduct. They should be proactive in identifying and mitigating legal risks and should be prepared to provide timely and accurate legal advice in the event of a legal dispute or regulatory investigation.