Team size: five

Can you briefly explain how the legal team is structured, highlighting key individuals and their role within the department?

Our internal organisation consists of five people, with three of them having a legal background. The unit takes the name of contracts and legal department, given the nature of its scope. I want to mention Adam Dean, responsible for the Asia Pacific region and Melissa Poulter, who oversees America, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. I oversee all their operations.

What are the most significant cases or transactions that your legal team has recently been involved in?

The acquisition of London Offshore Consultants in late 2020 has represented a significant milestone for the company and its legal team; it has required lots of effort from us, followed by an extensive integration projects post-closing.

What will be the main focus for the company in the next 12 months and how do you intend to assist with this?

In the next 12 months, the legal team will continue integration and streamlining projects along with providing day-to-day support to the business.

How does the team contribute constructively to the growth and expansion of the company?

Our aim for the upcoming years is to improve our processes in order to spend less time on the contracting phase and more time on fee-earning projects.

How do you feel the pandemic has changed the world of work for in-house counsel and the function of the general counsel?

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, I have not been able to meet the entire contract and legal team other than via Teams. That is undoubtedly a difference compared to pre-pandemic. While, I think we have improved when it comes to using electronic devices and platforms — such as for meetings and document sharing. We miss in-person contacts and interactions.

Svein Staalen
General counsel
AqualisBraemar