Denmark 2024
Supported by the Association of Corporate Counsel
Senior vice president and group general counsel | GN Store Nord
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
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
Senior vice president, general counsel and company secretary | Zealand Pharma
Group senior vice president, legal, risk and compliance | Vestas Wind Systems
Executive vice president, group legal, strategy and M&A | FLSmidth
Group general counsel, vice president, legal, compliance and risk management | Milestone Systems
Chief legal officer and senior vice president | Novo Nordisk Foundation
Chief legal adviser | DMI - Danmarks Meteorologiske Institut
Group vice president, chief legal officer, head of M&A and compliance | DLG
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 recent news that elite US firm Sullivan & Cromwell had apologised to a judge over AI hallucinations in a court filing prompted a collective wince from the legal profession.
But while some lawyers remain wary of AI, others are striking a more open-minded note, and at the LexisNexis AI Forum hosted this Wednesday (20 May) by Legal 500 and Legal Business, panelists argued that the risks are far outweighed by the opportunities.
Barbara Zapisetskaya, principal technology counsel at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, made the case that hallucinations and other potential pitfalls can be overcome with a shift in mindset.
‘What makes a difference,’ she said, ‘is empowering your lawyers to take responsibility for AI output – helping them become active AI operators, not just passive AI users. You have agency to decide whether you agree with the output or not.’
Zapisetskaya was among a line-up of leading in-house figures speaking on two panels, which covered everything from practical steps for AI implementation to the key decisions GCs need to be making in the coming months.
Financial Times general counsel Dan Guilford began by stressing the importance of building the right culture for AI adoption. In addition to proactively upskilling himself, Guilford talked about how he had implemented a voluntary weekly ‘show and tell’ meeting for team members to share successful use cases – or an exercise that became a gratifying measure of progress.
Other panelists discussed how increased in-house productivity is altering the dynamic with their external counsel.
While some see the use of AI by law firms as a precursor for reduced fees, Russell Davies, head of global operations for legal and compliance at Dentsu, said that faster results – however they are delivered – are something to be valued.
GSK assistant general counsel Anthony Kenny agreed, saying that while there was an expectation that external counsel would be utilising AI, the focus should be on the value of the output, rather than an overemphasis on identifying AI use as a justification to reduce fees.
Speaking on the second panel, MUFG EMEA general counsel James Morgan stressed the critical importance of education, noting that educating the C-suite on the advantages and risks of AI is just as important as enabling large in-house teams to use these tools.
Shanthini Satyendra, vice-chair of the AI Committee, Society for Computers & Law, CEO and founder of Manisain, offered a reminder of the importance of making the connection between tasks and the purpose behind them, extolling the virtues of identifying use cases for AI that can solve a meaningful problem.
Zapisetskaya concurred, adding that one of the most important tasks for GCs across the next six to twelve months is to create AI playbooks and templates, noting that ‘it is easy for lawyers to see problems – much harder for lawyers to see opportunities.’
There was also broad agreement among panellists that GCs should focus on upskilling their junior lawyers on AI, rather than – as some may expect – cutting back their workforce. As Satyendra summarised: ‘Some people are replacing human capital with AI without thinking about what’s required to make AI work. Retain your people and train them up.’
The panels were moderated by Emma Millington, head of the UK Lexis+ Finance Group, and LexisNexis director of segment management Stuart Greenhill.
