General counsel, Denmark | L'Oréal
Nina Boysen Dybdal Terney
General counsel, Denmark | L'Oréal
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?
L’Oréal Danmark is part of the L’Oréal Nordic HUB, and we are a small team consisting of our Nordic General Counsel, myself, and our legal counsel in Norway, providing legal support for all Nordic countries. The core mission of our legal team is to act as true business partners, offering pragmatic, commercially focused advice. Given the size of our team, we prioritise the allocation of our resources for maximum impact, concentrating on initiatives that deliver the greatest value to our clients and align with the overarching business strategy. During periods of instability, it becomes even more crucial to be value-oriented and pragmatic, and we work closely with the business and our relevant stakeholders to ensure the company’s resilience. Clear communication and decisive action are paramount, ensuring the protection of L’Oréal’s reputation and brand image.
What are the major cases or transactions you have been involved in recently?
Being part of a Nordic team, my focus is twofold: First, I serve as the legal business partner for our Danish business across all L’Oréal brands, providing day-to-day legal support and guidance. We have just come out of ‘nego-season’, which for me means assisting the business in negotiating contracts with our Danish clients. Second, I have a broader Nordic role as the legal business partner for our Luxury Product Division and our Digital and Marketing team, where we recently negotiated and rolled out a strategic partnership with an agency managing all our advocacy and influencer marketing activities across the Nordics. Having this dual responsibility allows me to contribute to both local market needs and more substantial Nordic projects, ensuring legal support is effectively integrated at all levels of the business.
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, including GenAI, is rapidly transforming all areas of our business — including the legal practice — and is impacting every aspect of our daily lives. I am fortunate to work with some of the most skilled colleagues in the industry, and I learn a great deal from our various teams about technological developments that also influence legal work. Additionally, we are continuously being upskilled within the company to harness these technologies effectively, and we prioritise hands-on experience with new tools to understand their practical application and ensure we are leveraging their full potential.
In your opinion, what are the main trends that are salient in your country currently (these can be legal, political, economy or business-based)?
Several key trends are shaping the current Danish landscape. The geopolitical climate underscores the need for resilience, impacting supply chains and strategic decision-making across industries. The green transition remains a key focus, driving innovation and investment in sustainable solutions. Simultaneously, the rapid digitalisation and the rise of AI present both opportunities and challenges, particularly regarding intellectual property protection, data privacy and cybersecurity. Ensuring robust legal frameworks that foster innovation while safeguarding these critical areas is absolutely key and something we are working with every day.
