About

Norsk Hydro is one of the largest aluminium producers in the world, with operations in 80 countries around the world. The Oslo-based legal team includes 12 staff that report into assistant general counsel and head of the Oslo corporate legal department (CLD) Terrance Conley, in addition to the general counsel and head of the global CLD Anne-Lene Midseim. Enjoying a high standing within the business, the team has close interaction with top management, including direct reports from the general counsel to the CEO, whilst all lawyers participate in management teams across each business area. Internal reorganisation has meant the legal team has begun to work more closely with Norsk Hydro’s corporate compliance group, which is organised entirely separately. Increased cooperation involves sharing the same physical locale in Oslo and establishing some joint key performance indicators to measure output. Consistent with Norsk Hydro’s philosophy of “constant improvement”, the legal department aims to advance its methodical approach to new and existing challenges. In the face of a more complex regulatory and political landscape, processes have been standardised to increase efficiency. As well as working within the existing framework to secure Norsk Hydro’s legal compliance, the team was responsible for a huge success liaising with Norwegian law makers, successfully lobbying with other Hydro business areas to amend legislation to ensure continued access to equity power assets, ensuring the amendment is legally and politically robust as well as understood by relevant stakeholders and decision makers.