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The legal department at Infront Sports & Media has built a reputation for thinking creatively about its contribution to the company, an approach which has led to some important initiatives in recent years. The team has taken the unusual step of organising a constant exchange with the management and sales personnel, allowing lawyers to take board seats and steering committee positions on a rolling basis. A second initiative has seen the team establish itself as a ‘hands-on and knowledgeable business partner’ by arranging a “legal round table” to help the company’s staff engage with legal topics over an informal lunch rather than sit through formal presentations. ‘We changed the perception of the legal department as business enabler and well respected “sparring partner” for the management’ says, Thomas Oehninger director, group general counsel and member of the extended group management team. The company has been involved in some significant transactions over the last years and has had to stand together as ‘one flexible team’, shifting assignments and resources between lawyers. In addition, the team has impacted the strategic direction of the company by ensuring that a rigorous compliance analysis grounds all business decisions.