Head of Legal | Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken (SEB)
Charlotte Fredborg Ørtoft
Head of Legal | Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken (SEB)
How do you approach managing legal aspects during periods of instability or crises, and how does your legal strategy align with the broader business strategy to ensure the organisation’s resilience?
We work closely with management and other departments and are represented in crisis management teams to ensure that legal considerations are factored into all decision-making processes. This collaboration helps align the legal strategy with the broader business strategy, ensuring a coordinated response. We also work closely with legal teams in other jurisdictions to ensure we can collaborate and assist each other, as well as the business, in situations of crisis or instability.
What are the major cases or transactions you have been involved in recently?
Due to bank secrecy restrictions, I am unable to mention specific cases or transactions. However, my team works, among other things, on loan and financing transactions for some of the largest Danish companies.
What measures has your company taken to embed sustainability practices into its core business operations, and how does the role of the general counsel contribute to driving and ensuring sustainable practices within the company?
Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken aims to be a leading catalyst in the sustainability transition and has adopted a number of global initiatives and international codes of conduct to guide business decisions and overall sustainability efforts. SEB offers various products and services with a sustainability focus, such as green loans and bonds, sustainability-linked loans, sustainable investments, and acts as a sustainability advisor. As legal counsels, we assist the business with legal advice regarding the products and services offered. We ensure that the legal team is knowledgeable and up to date on the regulations governing sustainability and the transition, enabling us to provide informed advice on these matters.
What emerging technologies do you see as having the most significant impact on the legal profession in the near future, and how do you stay updated on these developments?
AI and automation have the potential to make a significant impact in areas such as drafting standard documents, reviewing standard documents, conducting due diligence, and analysing legal data. I actively look out for legal seminars and articles about technologies to stay updated, but it is difficult when things move so fast.
Head of legal | Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken (SEB)
