This website uses cookies

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience. By using our website, you agree to our Privacy Policy

International In-house Counsel Journal logoInternational In-house Counsel Journal logo

Intra-Group Communications: An Avenue to More Efficient Legal Risk Management

May 2017
RiskIndustry

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the possibilities for in-house counsel to help maximize their efficiency and presence by adding emphasis on communication within their company. Essentially the underlying idea is raising awareness and providing employees with tools and information that reduce the need for very basic legal advice. This topic is – in our view – highly underrated by many counsel. In-house counsel have vast possibilities to increase their presence and ability to add value without being overtly intrusive. This can be done in particular by using a number of various digital tools commonplace in today’s corporate world, but also by more traditional means of communication. Getting the job done as a legal function often means supporting corporate personnel on nearly every level of an organization. However, considering the limitations in legal department personnel, prioritizing is often a necessity – this creates a need for other ways of providing support. After discussing the possibilities an increased focus on communication bring, this paper will outline some best practices in organizational communication in general and examine practical examples of how they can be implemented in ways useful for a legal function. It should prove an interesting read for in-house counsel who are interested in ideas about being more proactive towards their internal clients.

Read Paper

Author

Portrait image of Michael Ristaniemi
Michael Ristaniemi
Legal Counsel, Metsäliitto Cooperative, Finland

Michael Ristaniemi (LL.M. Uni. of Turku) has several years of experience of working both in-house and at leading Finnish and international law firms. Mr. Ristaniemi is passionate about harnessing digital tools and has led several development projects within legal departments. Currently the author is an LL.D. candidate at the University of Turku, Finland and Legal Counsel at Metsä Group, based in Helsinki Finland.

Company

Metsäliitto Cooperative logo

Metsäliitto Cooperative

Metsä Group is a forerunner in bioeconomy utilising renewable wood from sustainably managed northern forests. Metsä Group focuses on wood supply and forest services, wood products, pulp, fresh forest fibre paperboards and tissue and cooking papers. The Group operates in some 30 countries.

Related Papers

Smart Risk Assessment for Compliance Risk
Successful management of compliance risk lies at the heart of the compliance mission statement. Practical efforts to develop and expand upon existing methodologies are ongoing, with the goal of identifying...Read more
Portrait image of Florian Stork
Florian Stork
Associate Senior Counsel – Compliance EMEA, The Linde Group, Germany
Portrait image of Maik Ebersoll
Maik Ebersoll
Head of Legal Operations, Linde AG, Germany
Working in a centralized legal department, providing legal advice for global business
In-house legal departments serve as the company’s guardians of risk mitigation and internal regulations, balancing the boundaries set by applicable laws and the company’s individual risk portfolio with the company’s...Read more
Portrait image of Svenja Partu
Svenja Partu
General Counsel, thyssenkrupp Polysius GmbH, Germany
From Law to Metrics: Quantifying and Managing Risks Related to Human Rights and the Environment in Global Supply Chains
Various legislators have discussed and implemented regulations on sustainability in supply chains in recent years. Examples include the German Act on Corporate Due Diligence to Prevent Human Rights Violations in...Read more
Portrait image of Maik Ebersoll
Maik Ebersoll
Head of Legal Operations, Robert Bosch GmbH, Germany
Portrait image of Matthias Meyer
Matthias Meyer
Head of the Institute for Management Accounting and Simulation, Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH), Germany
Portrait image of Mark Schmidt
Mark Schmidt
Research associate , Institute of Management Accounting and Simulation, Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH), Germany
Portrait image of Achim Tschauder
Achim Tschauder
Program Director, Bucerius Legal Operations Campus, Germany
Building an Elite In-house Legal Department
I have served in three general counsel roles in different industries over the past 27 years, including most recently for two decades with CF Industries (NYSE:CF). CF is an international...Read more
Portrait image of Douglas Barnard
Douglas Barnard
EVP, Corporate Development and Legal Advisor, CF Industries, USA