Team size: 14

What are the key projects that you have been involved in over the past 12 months?

Negotiations and drafting of a lease agreement for Andøya Airport from Norwegian Defense to the Norwegian airport operator Avinor. I was also involved in a number of large and small construction projects as part of the investment in real estate, construction and facilities for the Armed Forces. We also participated in a lawsuit from approximately 200 neighbours of Ørland Air Base for compensation for alleged noise nuisance resulting from new fighter jets at the base. Lastly, implementation and operationalisation of the SDCA agreement (Supplementary Defence Cooperation Agreement) with USA for the establishment of facilities in Norwegian military camps, this year focused on Rygge Air Base.

Have you had any experiences during your career as a lawyer that stand out as particularly unique or interesting?

In my 12 years as GC at NDEA, I have been fortunate to be responsible for legal strategy, negotiations and drafting of the sales contract for three of the largest airports in Norway, Værnes near Trondheim, Flesland in Bergen and the airport in Bodø from the Armed Forces to the Norwegian airport operator Avinor.

What do you think are the most important attributes for a modern in-house counsel to possess?

In my opinion, the most important attributes for a modern in-house counsel to possess are needing to know our business inside and out and an ability to contribute meaningfully and deliver impact to the business. You also need to provide practical, actionable advice. Since you work with and advise non-lawyers, one needs to learn to communicate in a clear and effective way, and not let your point get muddied or misunderstood because you dive too deeply into legal principles or use too much legal jargon. The client doesn’t want to hear about case law or legal theories. They need practical advice they can act upon.

One must have the ability to deliver well in a fast-paced working environment. There often simply isn’t time to do lengthy research and come up with the “perfect” answer to any given problem, and you often have to make decisions with limited information. Lastly, an “all hands on deck” mentality is crucial to jump in where and when you are needed.