Denmark 2024
Supported by the Association of Corporate Counsel
Senior vice president and group general counsel | GN Store Nord
Executive vice president, group legal, strategy and M&A | FLSmidth
General counsel and head of corporate affairs | A.P. Møller – Mærsk
Deputy general counsel, head of legal, VP | A.P. Møller – Mærsk
General counsel and head of legal, private markets | PensionDanmark
Group general counsel, global legal, risk and compliance | LEO Pharma
Group general counsel, vice president, legal, compliance and risk management | Milestone Systems
Chief legal counsel, Denmark and counsel for Europe region projects | G4S Security Services
Group general counsel, senior vice president, group legal, IP and business ethics | Coloplast
Legal lead, Northern Europe Region | Wipro Technologies & Designit
Head of legal, international and data privacy | Arla Foods
Vice president, legal and regulatory | Hi3G Denmark (3)
Chief legal officer and head of CEO office | ATP Ejendomme
General counsel and chief human resources officer | Copenhagen Business School
Group chief legal and compliance officer | Unifeeder
Chief legal officer and senior vice president | Novo Nordisk Foundation
Chief legal adviser | DMI - Danmarks Meteorologiske Institut
Senior vice president, general counsel and company secretary | Zealand Pharma
Group vice president, chief legal officer, head of M&A and compliance | DLG
Group senior vice president, legal, risk and compliance | Vestas Wind Systems
On behalf of The Legal 500, we are delighted to extend a warm and enthusiastic welcome to the GC Powerlist: Denmark 2024. Following the success of last year’s Teams edition, this year, we shift our focus to celebrate the exceptional individuals who have elevated the in-house legal role to new heights. We proudly showcase the most dedicated corporate lawyers in the country, spotlighting their remarkable achievements over the past year.
This publication unveils the remarkable contributions made by an exclusive group of general counsel, legal heads, and other pivotal in-house legal figures, underscoring their expertise, leadership, and steadfast dedication to excellence. This latest edition exemplifies outstanding achievements by these select individuals as they adeptly navigate Denmark’s legal terrain, tackling challenges such as integrating legal tech innovations, navigating shifting political and economic dynamics, fostering diversity and inclusion, and as they play a pivotal role in advising closer to C-level management and influencing executive decisions within their respective companies and organisations.
You’ll discover in-depth profiles and exclusive interviews with the most influential and esteemed in-house lawyers spanning various industries in Denmark. Their demonstrated ability to navigate legal strategies, mitigate risks, and provide strategic guidance to their companies is prominently showcased. Their achievements not only inspire the legal community but also underscore the profound impact that in-house lawyers can have on their organisations’ business strategies and overall success.
The research and interviews done during the development of this publication bring to light several key findings, including the resilience and adaptability of legal departments during times of political and economical uncertainty in Europe, but also other more positive notes observations, such as the inevitable and crucial integration of technology – particularly artificial intelligence – into the daily responsibilities of every in-house lawyer. Yvonne Larson, Head of Legal at Signify, emphasises this shift, stating, “[a]s technology rapidly advances, especially in the area of artificial intelligence, the role of the in-house lawyer is again evolving.” Recognising the importance of this evolution, Mads Juul Eegholm, Chief Legal Officer and Vice President at Velliv, Pension & Livsforsikring, underscores the necessity for proficiency in emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, to leverage innovative solutions for legal operations, risk assessment, compliance monitoring, and strategic decision-making.”
Another notable reflection from this publication’s discoveries is the increasing significance of the role of in-house counsel within companies and organisations, as they assume greater proximity to C-level management and play pivotal roles in executive and business decision-making processes. As stated by Andreas Holmstroem Soerensen, Head of Legal at PFA Pension, “[w]e have for several years focused on stakeholder management and our strategic advice to directors and C-level […] and we are involved in strategic project initiated by our business counterparts, both product developments and customer initiatives, as well as digital infrastructure programs and supplier due diligence.” Another clear testimony of this is provided by Eva Møland Tørsleff, Chief Legal Officer at Heimstaden who further emphasises this trend, noting how her team has “fostered closer collaboration by being physically present and accessible, conducting education across all levels, and specifically equipping our C-level executives with the necessary legal insights.”
Within this edition, we comprehensively address numerous pertinent subjects and unique challenges, inviting you to explore The GC Powerlist: Denmark 2024 and uncover the remarkable narratives of these exceptional individuals. Through their experiences and perspectives, our aim is to provide a comprehensive depiction of the legal landscape in the country and highlight the invaluable contributions of in-house legal departments.
We extend our sincere gratitude and congratulations to all the featured in-house lawyers for their valuable contributions and for graciously sharing their journeys with us. It is with great pleasure that we present to you this distinguished list of Denmark’s most exceptional, diligent, and celebrated in-house lawyers.
Francisco Faria e Castro | Editorial lead | GC Powerlist Series
The Legal 500 was proud to host the third edition of the GC Powerlist: Japan 2025 at the Capitol Hotel Tokyu, honouring the top General Counsel, Chief Legal Officers, Legal Directors, and senior in-house legal professionals operating at the highest level of Japan’s corporate legal landscape. Held in Tokyo, this year’s reception welcomed around 100 of the most respected and senior corporate counsel from across Japan. It was an unrivalled success, and cements Legal 500’s status as the leading force in legal media supporting the achievements of in-house counsel in Japan. The GC Powerlist: Japan 2025 marks the continuation of our commitment to recognising excellence in-house, and this year’s edition represents the most competitive and selective list to date.
Joe Boswell, lead editor of the GC powerlist publication at The Legal 500, opened the evening with an introduction that reflected on the growing prestige of the Japan list. He emphasised how the Powerlist has grown stronger each year, both in scope and quality, making the task of selection more difficult. This year’s honourees emerged from a deeply competitive field, making their recognition even more meaningful.
Boswell extended heartfelt congratulations to all honourees and acknowledged the critical support of key partners and sponsors who made the evening possible. Special thanks were given to Anderson Mori & Tomotsune, Morrison Foerster, iManage, JustLegal, and SS&C Intralinks for their generous sponsorship and ongoing collaboration.
In a moment of reflection, Joe paid tribute to Tim Mackey, chief legal officer at SoftBank, who sadly passed away unexpectedly earlier this year. Tim had contributed to the Powerlist in each of its three editions and was known not only for his exceptional legal acumen but also for his warmth and generosity.
The evening featured insightful remarks from distinguished speakers representing our partners and the broader legal community: Mischa Mulligan, Japan Director at SS&C Intralinks; Hiroki Kodate, Partner and Management Committee Member at Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Jeremy White, Global Co-Chair of M&A for Morrison Foerster; and, representing those awarded in the Powerlist, Naoki Hamada, General Counsel for Japan at HSBC.
Each speaker provided reflections on legal innovation, leadership, and the evolving role of in-house counsel in Japan’s corporate landscape. Their remarks added valuable context to the achievements celebrated throughout the evening.
The formal awards segment celebrated this year’s GC Powerlist honourees. With assistance from long-time collaborator Isaac Uchiyama who read out awardees’ names, recipients were invited to collect their certificates, pose for photographs, and be formally recognised by their peers.
Certificates were presented on stage by Hiroki Kodate or Anderson Mori & Tomotsune and Jeremy White of Morrison Foerster, whose participation further underlined the deep support of the Japanese and international legal communities.
The GC Powerlist: Japan 2025 reception reaffirmed Legal 500’s commitment to spotlighting the very best of in-house legal talent. With record levels of interest and unmatched quality among candidates, the Japan edition continues to solidify its place as one of the most respected publications in the global GC Powerlist series.
We extend our sincere congratulations to all honourees and thank our partners, sponsors, and speakers for making the evening a success.
We look forward to returning to Tokyo again next year. As a parting gift, you can view Naoki Hamada’s excellent keynote address below, where he touches on a lot of issues and themes that many other GC, whatever country they operate in, will recognise:
‘Good evening, everyone. I am Naoki Hamada of HSBC. I am very pleased to be here speaking to you today. It is a great pleasure and honor, and at the same time, I feel a bit overwhelmed being surrounded by the busiest and most expensive lawyers in the industry—even if I know that nobody will be charging us for their time. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Legal 500 for organizing such a great event, and Anderson Mori & Tomotsune, Morrison Foerster, iManage, SS&C Intralinks, and Just Legal for sponsoring and supporting it. And, huge congratulations on the recognition each of you is receiving, which is truly a great accomplishment and the result of your hard work and the accumulated trust the entire industry has placed in you.
It must be emphasized that this award is given only to general counsels. Being a general counsel means a lot more than just being a subject matter expert. You are a most reliable strategic partner for the business, and I am sure that you have distinguished yourself from the crowd by your ability to identify underlying risks, devise legal solutions, ensure the right processes and governance for corporate decisions, influence others, and educate the next generation of lawyers. This is what you are being recognized for.
Looking back on my career, I have been hugely helped by lawyers in other companies through various industry communities. When I joined the in-house world 12 years ago from a Japanese law firm, large international banks were all struggling with a huge wave of regulatory reform. Back then, I was relatively new to that particular area of finance, and my hiring was somewhat potential-based. Nonetheless, I was assigned to lead the regulatory reform efforts locally. My predecessor had left the bank before I joined, there was no sufficient handover, and I was completely lost as to what to do. What helped me most were the industry peer group discussions, where in-house counsels from major banks would get together to discuss common issues. I learned so much from what was discussed there and absorbed as much as I could. Without that network, I am sure that I wouldn’t have survived that time.
However, our situation today is far more difficult. The changes in the landscape we face today are unprecedented. Technological developments and the corresponding shifts in geopolitical and industrial landscapes are completely unpredictable, and the speed at which they happen is far faster than before. We might face a time that requires us to pivot, forcing us to redefine how we add value and rebuild the way we work. That is somewhat intimidating. But, I am confident that a way forward will be found through the collective wisdom and effort of the people in this room. I would like to be a part of that, and this network of people is enormously valuable and truly priceless.
Finally, let’s have a drink and celebrate our achievements for now – before your CEO calls asking you to join a call! Thank you so much.’
