Legal director | Fortum
Viljami Aarbakke
Legal director | Fortum
What are the projects that you are most proud of working on over the past 12 months?
As the legal lead for Fortum’s insourcing of Operations and Maintenance in Finnish and Swedish hydro, I successfully managed the integration of 250 employees during spring 2024. My role extended beyond legal oversight, as I also provided strategic planning support to our management in steering co-owned production assets. Additionally, I spearheaded the creation and implementation of a robust, group-wide claims management process, significantly enhancing our operational efficiency and risk management capabilities.
How do you approach managing legal aspects during periods of instability or crisis to ensure the organisation’s resilience?
My approach focuses on maintaining resilience through proactive planning, clear communication, and collaboration. Our in-house legal team is praised for exceptional cross-functional collaboration, ensuring early identification of legal risks. By fostering a culture of transparency and trust within the legal team and across the organisation, we can better support each other and make informed decisions that contribute to the organisation’s stability and resilience. I emphasise the importance of having robust compliance and governance frameworks in place, which are essential for navigating complex regulatory environments and ensuring that our actions remain legally sound. Additionally, I advocate for the use of legal technology and knowledge management tools to streamline processes and enhance efficiency, enabling swift and effective responses to challenges. We have curiously piloted several AI applications, and every month, an AI use case of the month is shared with the entire team.
Who is someone that has had a great impact on your career success?
What I derive the most satisfaction from in my work is the dynamic and transformative nature of the energy industry. As the market evolves at an unprecedented pace, it presents a myriad of challenging and fascinating topics to tackle. At Fortum, I have thrived under an open leadership culture that places immense trust in its employees. This environment, coupled with the opportunity for job rotation, has allowed me to explore three different roles over my six years at Fortum, spanning various aspects of the company’s operations. This diversity in experience has not only broadened my skill set but also deepened my understanding of the industry, making my work both fulfilling and impactful.
What do you think sets you apart from other in-house counsel?
In my view, the most important attributes for a modern in-house counsel are strategic thinking, strong communication skills, and curiosity. Strategic thinking involves not only providing legal advice but also understanding the broader business context and contributing to the company’s goals. This means anticipating legal risks, developing proactive solutions, and aligning legal strategies with the company’s objectives. Strong communication skills are essential for effective collaboration across departments. In-house counsel must convey complex legal concepts clearly and concisely, ensuring that all stakeholders understand the implications and can make informed decisions. Additionally, curiosity – especially embracing AI and other emerging technologies – is vital. With increasing pressure to reduce costs and improve efficiency, the adoption of AI in relevant processes is crucial for modern legal departments.
