What are the most significant cases, projects and/or transactions that you and/or your legal team have recently been involved in?

Since I joined the business end of 2019, we have grown from five to 65 open Premier Inn hotels in Germany, supported by a substantial committed pipeline that positions Premier Inn as one of the fastest‑growing hotel brands in Germany. Scaling at this pace requires a legal and governance framework capable of supporting rapid expansion while maintaining consistency, accountability and compliance. From the outset, my focus has been to build structures that are repeatable, resilient and calibrated to both the standards of Whitbread as owner of the Premier Inn business and Germany’s regulatory environment.

As our portfolio expanded from a small cluster of assets to a multi‑regional and growing pipeline, my team ensured that regulatory requirements and Whitbread governance standards were embedded directly into development processes, supplier onboarding and operational procedures. This allows every opening—and every future site—to meet legal, compliance and ESG expectations from day one, irrespective of location, contractor base or project complexity. Our successful UK business continues to serve as the benchmark for operational discipline, and my aim has been to replicate this governance strength while tailoring frameworks to German regulation and market conditions. This balance has allowed us to benefit from Group expertise without compromising local relevance.

Given the current geopolitical shifts and growing uncertainties around international free trade, has your company’s risk profile evolved, and are you taking measures to address these challenges? 

The broader geopolitical environment has elevated exposure in several areas. Particularly relevant to us as an international business is the reliability of supply chains, data‑privacy requirements, and the pace of regulatory change across markets. We responded by strengthening cross‑border contracting frameworks, expanding supplier due‑diligence protocols, and integrating geopolitical risk into early‑stage strategic planning. These steps ensure that legal constraints and external dependencies are understood upfront, not surfaced only at execution stage. As a result, Legal has become a more embedded partner in international decision‑making, supporting the business early in concept development rather than at the final approval stage.

How can general counsel foster a corporate culture that supports ESG principles and compliance across all levels of the organisation?

This topic is especially relevant to me as, in addition to my role as General Counsel for Premier Inn Germany, I am also responsible for ESG and lead an in‑house ESG Manager. Embedding ESG in a fast‑growing business requires more than policy—it requires understanding. Our first priority was to educate the still growing and in parts immature organisation on the regulatory, operational and commercial significance of ESG. Once stakeholders recognised that ESG contributes directly to risk mitigation, cost efficiency and long‑term asset value, adoption across business units accelerated. We then translated ESG principles into practical tools: updated policies, measurable KPIs, enhanced supplier frameworks and contractual ESG criteria. These interventions ensure that ESG is not abstract but embedded in day‑to‑day decisions across development, procurement, operations and commercial teams. Our ESG Governance Structure further assigns clear executive accountability, reinforcing discipline and transparency. I am part of the German Operating Committee, which receives regular updates on ESG progress, risks and required actions. This cadence supports consistent alignment across functions and reinforces the message that ESG and compliance operate as mutually reinforcing pillars of organisational resilience. We deliberately position ESG not as a standalone programme but as an integral component of how we grow responsibly, manage risk and uphold the responsibilities expected of a leading hospitality business. This integrated approach—governance first, operationally grounded, and commercially aligned—has been central to supporting Premier Inn’s rapid and sustainable expansion in Germany.