Team size: 9

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

The legal team, that I manage, consists of 9 lawyers/in-house counsels. We are currently involved in several major projects in the company, including the construction of two new airports (Bodø and Mo I Rana), Future air traffic management system, a large commercial tender/contract portfolio etc. The team’s work is typically related to public tenders, drafting contracts and dispute resolution.

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

It is essential for an in-house counsel to understand the business well and have close contact, trust and cooperation with the management and colleagues across different professions. I believe there should be a low threshold for seeking legal advice, and in-house legal counsels must reply swiftly to meet the needs of the organisation. To be able to reply swiftly and meet the organisation’s needs, one must allocate and prioritise time efficiently. Legal advice needs to be put forward in an understandable and useful manner. I believe in-house (and external) lawyers need to be more focused on translating legal issues into practical and understandable advice for other professions in the organisation, rather than resorting to comprehensive theoretical reports. Risks and reservations need to be identified and pointed out, but a thorough legal analysis of preparatory works, judgements of the courts etc. is not often what your colleagues need. The legal team that I oversee has focused on getting involved at early stages of new initiatives, projects and strategies.

At early stages it is easier to merge business needs with legal aspects in an efficient way, so that legal counsel is seen and used as an asset rather than a hindrance. Legal rules and regulations could easily be seen as a restraint from a commercial or business point of view, especially if there has been put a lot of effort and work into an initiative, project or strategy that is hindered by laws and regulations at a late stage. Our legal team therefore regularly attend or visit management groups. We are also involved with, or a part of, project groups in major construction projects, commercial tenders etc. Eventually, I will emphasise the importance of working proactively to address material legal issues within the organisation, by addressing or resolving recurring issues, writing articles on the Intranet, holding internal courses etc.