Markus Kaum – GC Powerlist
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Germany 2014

Markus Kaum

Head of Department/Group Legal | Munich RE

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Germany 2014

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Markus Kaum

Head of Department/Group Legal | Munich RE

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Markus Kaum impresses as head of legal at Munich RE, particularly his ‘strength to innovate and his courage to leave the beaten path for the benefit of his company’. Observers note that ‘the CEO and the board of directors have full confidence in him’. Kaum has coupled the legal advice regarding stock market law, finance and data protection with commercial and organisational aspects and even ‘set up entire teams within the relevant departments’ while ‘aligning legal services with commercial goals’. A particular highlight has been the implementation of the first cross-border merger of listed companies under the new MgVG legislation (Mitbestimmung der Arbeitnehmer bei einer grenzüberschreitenden Verschmelzung), which regulates employee rights of participation in decision making in such a situation. The merger made it possible for Munich RE to remain a listed company while at the same time further develop and globalise its worker’s representation agreements, changes that have been ‘welcomed by the unions’. Kaum’s company has been the first in Germany to renegotiate these terms and conditions with workers under the new law, a particular challenge. Kaum believes corporate counsel have to be able to cover a multitude of matters: They have to ‘grasp the details of a project’s commercial goals, analyse the various interests of all parties involved and develop a flawless, legally sound and, if possible, elegant solution’. He particularly enjoys ‘being the first one to try something new’. Law firms should ‘organise teams according to expertise and efficient team leadership while having a clear understanding of our business’.

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