Denmark 2025
Supported by the Association of Corporate Counsel
Senior vice president and group general counsel | GN Store Nord
Senior vice president, general counsel and ESG | Adform
Vice President, Corporate Legal, IP & Business Ethics and Compliance | Ambu
Vice president, group general counsel | Royal Unibrew
Group general counsel, head of global legal, IPR and compliance | LEO Pharma
Group general counsel, vice president, legal, compliance and risk management | Milestones System
Chief legal counsel, Denmark and counsel for Europe region projects | G4S Security Services
Global general counsel, vice president, legal, brand protection and indirect procurement | Bang & Olufsen
Global general counsel | Scan Global Logistics
Legal lead, Northern Europe Region | Wipro Technologies & Designit
Vice president, head of legal and compliance | Danske Commodities
Chief legal officer, head of group legal | Velliv, Pension & Livsforsikring
Senior vice president, group legal and compliance, general counsel | SimCorp
Chief legal officer and head of corporate affairs | ATP Ejendomme
Senior manager, development and legal | NCC Property Development
Director, group general counsel and board secretary | Faerch Group
General counsel and head of corporate affairs | A.P. Møller – Mærsk
Vice president, head of legal, deputy general counsel | A.P. Møller – Mærsk
General counsel and head of legal, private markets | PensionDanmark
Head of legal, group operations and compliance | Eurowind Energy
General counsel and chief human resources officer | Copenhagen Business School
General counsel, head of governance, risk and compliance | Dagrofa
Senior vice president, general counsel, legal, risk and compliance | Pandora
Head of legal data, IP and marketing | Grundfos
Group vice president, chief legal officer, head of M&A and compliance | DLG Group
On behalf of Legal 500, it is our pleasure to warmly welcome you to the GC Powerlist: Denmark 2025.
Following the success of last year, this year’s publication maintains its focus on the outstanding Individuals who continue to elevate the in-house legal profession across Denmark. We are proud to spotlight the most committed and accomplished corporate lawyers in the country, celebrating their remarkable achievements over the past year.
This edition honours an exclusive group of general counsel, heads of legal, and other key in-house legal professionals, whose expertise, leadership, and dedication to excellence stand out within the business and legal communities. From integrating cutting-edge legal technology and navigating complex political and economic landscapes to championing diversity and inclusion and shaping executive-level decisions, these individuals exemplify what it means to lead with impact.
Inside, you’ll find in-depth profiles and exclusive interviews with some of Denmark’s most influential in-house lawyers, representing a diverse range of industries. Their ability to craft legal strategies, manage risk, and guide business decisions is a testament to the increasingly strategic role that legal departments now play within their organisations.
The research and interviews behind this publication brought forward key insights, including the resilience of in-house teams amid ongoing European political and economic uncertainty, and the growing – and necessary – integration of technology, especially artificial intelligence, into their daily work. Another key theme is the expanding influence of in-house counsel at the C-suite level, underscoring their critical role in driving business success.
Through this edition, we delve into the unique challenges and opportunities shaping Denmark’s legal landscape and share the stories of the individuals redefining what it means to be a modern in-house lawyer. Our goal is to offer a compelling snapshot of the sector’s evolution and the enduring value of legal teams within today’s corporate environment.
We extend our sincere thanks and congratulations to all the featured lawyers for their generous contributions and for sharing their insights and experiences. It is a privilege to present this distinguished list of Denmark’s most outstanding, dedicated, and forward-thinking in-house legal professionals.
Finally, our heartfelt thanks go to EY Denmark for partnering with us once again and for hosting the official launch event. Your continued support is greatly appreciated.
Francisco Castro | Research Editor | 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.
