About

Holtzbrinck Publishing Group is among Germany’s largest media companies and it has been partly Sascha Theißen’s responsibility to transform ‘the legal department from a purely M&A practice into an IP/IT full service department’. The list of other organisational changes is long, among them the strengthening of independent work, regularly retrospectives, and the implementation of Lunch & Learn, where lawyers regularly connect with other departments and the board, outside the company in an informal setting. Particular highlights have been building relationships to decision makers in the crucial area of digital business models. Theißen is strategically involved, particularly regarding ‘new business models, products and projects – from the first brainstorming up until implementation’. This is also where he can capitalise on his IT knowledge, commercial skills and interest in strategy and leadership. Law firms have to refrain from employing staff members who ‘only point out problems but don’t see solutions’.