Career biography

Generally speaking, has Head of Legal reporting to the CEO I am responsible for all company’s activities from a legal perspective with a focus on M&A, general contract negotiation and drafting, finance, risk management, litigation management, regulatory compliance, tax law, intellectual property, and employment law.

Looking at the work during the last twelve months, the implementation of a large‑scale industrial heat pump–based energy concept designed to significantly improve energy efficiency, decarbonization, and security of heat supply at one of our paper mills has been one of the highlights. The project was the first of its kind in the paper industry and required complex contracting across a wide range of legal areas (regulatory, energy law, commercial).

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

In my view, the most important attribute of a modern in‑house counsel is a strong understanding of the business. Legal advice creates real value only when it is aligned with the company’s strategy, commercial realities, and risk appetite, and when it is focused on enabling sound decisions rather than simply highlighting risks. Clear communication is equally critical. Much of my role involves translating complex legal issues into practical, actionable guidance and acting as a trusted sparring partner to management and the business. Adaptability is also essential, given the pace of regulatory change and geopolitical uncertainty. Finally, integrity, sound judgment, and the ability to leverage technology to work efficiently are fundamental to fulfilling the in‑house counsel’s role as both legal advisor and guardian of the company’s values.

Based on your experiences in the past year, are there any trends in the legal or business world that you are keeping an eye on that you think other in-house lawyers should be mindful of?

Over the past years, I’ve seen my role as an in‑house lawyer become increasingly intertwined with day‑to‑day business decisions. Regulatory topics like ESG and supply‑chain compliance, and data protection now translate directly into operational questions, where the real challenge is finding solutions, the business can actually implement. I’m also keeping a close eye on technology, especially AI. IT solutions will become an important tool for the creation and review of contracts in relation to a wide range of standard business contracts. The quality of such IT tools when it comes to generating contract templates and reviewing contracts in terms of industry practice and particularities of applicable laws will certainly further improve to a level which I could not have foreseen two years ago.