Team size: 4

What are the key projects that you have been involved in over the past 12 months?

The most significant project we have been involved in over the past year has been the divestment of our Business Services service line. The transaction involved more than 600 employees and activities within accounting, payroll, finance operations, digitalisation and business support, with annual revenues exceeding NOK 1bn. It was executed through a carve-out and transfer of the business to a wholly owned subsidiary, followed by a share transfer to the buyer upon completion. The process was both highly demanding and exciting, requiring close collaboration with external advisors and multiple functions within our own organisation.

BDO Norway has approximately 1,600 employees across more than 50 offices nationwide and is part of a global network operating in over 160 countries. There are at any given time a wide range of ongoing initiatives requiring legal support. These include, for example, negotiations of supplier agreements (particularly related to IT systems and AI tools), agreements with large clients, assessments of regulatory developments, and other ad-hoc legal matters that naturally arise in a regulated organisation.

As the in-house role continues to evolve from legal advisor to business partner, what strategies have you found most effective for stakeholder management and aligning legal advice with business strategy?

In my experience, there is rarely a “one size fits all” solution. However, a good understanding of the business and its core long-term interests enables in-house counsel to contribute more effectively across a wide range of issues. An important part of my role is to bring a longer-term perspective and assess how proposed solutions align with other parts of the organisation. If short-term gains risk undermining long-term objectives, they are seldom in the overall interest of the business.

Clear communication of the in-house role is also important. In my view, the primary responsibility of in-house counsel is to help identify, manage and mitigate legal risks. Given that resources are often limited, it is necessary to prioritise effectively and to clearly communicate the rationale behind those priorities – including when there is a need to involve specialised external counsel.

Close collaboration with the business is another key strategy. For example, when negotiating contracts, in-house counsel can typically handle standard boilerplate provisions independently. At the same time, it is critical to have a solid understanding of the underlying facts and how the agreement will operate in practice. This requires closer dialogue with the colleagues who will be responsible for managing the contract. Key questions typically include whether performance obligations are clearly defined, whether the agreement reflects actual business needs, and whether the organisation is able to comply with the proposed terms, or if adjustments are required.

Equally important is ensuring that legal and business stakeholders share a common understanding of the relevant legal and commercial landscape. If decisions are made based on different assumptions or “maps,” the risk of misunderstandings increases.

Finally, combining clear and objective advice with a positive and solution-oriented mindset goes a long way in building trust and stronger stakeholder relationships.

What key trends – and challenges – should in-house lawyers be monitoring over the next year?

The continued development of AI is a key trend to monitor, presenting significant opportunities while also giving rise to complex regulatory developments. In-house lawyers will need to follow how AI-related regulations evolve and how they interact with existing legal frameworks.

At the same time, it is important to remember that existing legal obligations, such as confidentiality, data protection, and professional responsibilities, remain unchanged. A necessity going forward will be to implement in accordance with new regulatory requirements, while at the same time ensuring continued compliance with the established obligations. Successfully helping to navigate this landscape will be an important task for many in-house legal teams.