The world as a workplace

Every year, Gorrissen Federspiel sends employees abroad to gain professional and personal experience. Kathrine, Frederik and Chastine share their stories about their secondments in London, Milan and New York respectively – and about British multiculturalism, Italian authorities and working on Twitter’s lawsuit against Elon Musk.

Kathrine Færløv Hovelsø, 32 Attorney, Corporate/M&A and Capital Markets

Seconded to Slaughter and May in London, England

Why did you choose to be seconded to Slaughter and May in London?

“I’ve always wanted to work abroad, preferably in a large international law firm. Despite Brexit, London remains a financial centre in Europe, and Slaughter and May is one of the most reputable firms in the city, so when I was offered the opportunity for a secondment here, I had no doubts.”

What are your personal and professional objectives for the secondment?

“Personally, my aim has been to get to know British culture better, to take advantage of London’s many cultural and culinary offerings, and to expand my international network. We are ten visiting lawyers who are seconded to Slaughter and May at the same time. This means that my international network – in addition to colleagues at Slaughter and May – has expanded to include lawyers from across Europe, Saudi Arabia, Japan and Argentina. One of my professional objectives was to challenge myself by working in a jurisdiction other than Denmark and with colleagues and clients that I hadn’t known for several years. It turns out that there are many similarities in the approach to work in a large law firm, whether it’s in Copenhagen or London, but of course there are also areas where Slaughter and May has a different approach to work and matters.”

What is done differently at Slaughter and May, for example?

“Due to Slaughter and May’s size alone, some administrative procedures are more formalised than at Gorrissen Federspiel, for example in connection with capacity management. Slaughter and May’s size also means that there is an underlying support system that only very large law firms can sustain, including secretarial support around the clock and at weekends, staff to handle all legal research tasks and staff dedicated to training and innovation. Slaughter and May also spends a lot of time trying to improve conditions for all employees, and I believe they are trying to push standards in the profession. Slaughter and May were the first to introduce a working practices code. This is a set of formal guidelines on the expectations for the work of lawyers. The guidelines cover, for example, the frequency with which employees are expected to check and reply to emails late at night and at weekends, as well as guidelines for organising and scheduling meetings. Of course, there are still many situations where the guidelines cannot be fully met, but in those situations, there is an open dialogue.”

How does Slaughter and May differ from Gorrissen Federspiel as a workplace?

“First and foremost, Slaughter and May is different in that it’s a much larger organisation with 1,200 people working at its London office. This means, among other things, that there are fewer familiar faces in the canteen, where there are up to 12 different symbols on the daily menu so that everyone can identify allergens and observe religious preferences. This illustrates very well how London is a city on a different scale than Copenhagen, and the diversity of the workforce that comes with it. On the practical side, the offices are organised very differently than at Gorrissen Federspiel, as no lawyers have individual offices, and all part- ners share an office with a trainee. It creates a very open culture in the office, where you never face a closed door.”

What has surprised you most during your secondment?

“I was surprised how quickly Slaughter and May integrated me into the daily work and how much trust I’ve been shown on assignments because I’m seconded from Gorrissen Federspiel. You often encounter prejudices that the big law firms have a tough working environment, but I’ve experienced that there’s an informal tone among colleagues and partners at Slaughter and May, and the social aspect is very important. During my secondment, we had regular after-work drinks once or twice a month in my department; I’ve attended the annual traditional gala plus one at Grosvenor House near Hyde Park with 1,300 attendees; my department has had its own Christmas party in the city and, of course, the Brits love going to the pub. It’s given me a great opportunity to network and get to know my colleagues better.”

What is your best advice for colleagues considering a secondment abroad?

“Just go. A secondment with a client or abroad is a great opportunity to test your skills outside Gorrissen Federspiel’s safe environment, and it also provides an opportunity to reflect on your professional and personal life. It’s become clearer to me what I value in my daily work at home, including my good colleagues and clients, and at the same time I’ve gained perspectives and input from Slaughter and May that I take back with me.”

Frederik Løvstad, 30

Attorney, Dispute Resolution/Corporate

Seconded to Nunziante Magrone in Milan, Italy

Why did you choose to be seconded to Nunziante Magrone in Milan?

“I wanted to try something different than the traditional secondment destinations. My partner is half-Italian and we’ve both always wanted to live in Italy, so it was the obvious choice. In addition, Gorrissen Federspiel has a strong relationship with Nunziante Magrone.”

What are your personal and professional objectives for the secondment?

“First, I want to strengthen my international profile, and secondly, I thought it would be interesting to experience what it’s like to work with a different legal system. Compared to Italy, Denmark has a slightly more trust-based society, which is also reflected in our legal system. In Italy, there are several formalities in the legal process that reflect this difference, for example, when concluding agreements. It’s exciting to get a perspective different from what is familiar, and you realise that there are far more similarities than differences.”

Which matters and clients have you been involved with?

“I provide corporate advice in matters where there’s an international aspect. Among other things, I act as the link between Danish clients and my Italian colleagues. It’s a slightly different role than I’m used to because my role is primarily client-oriented and communicative, whereas my focus in Denmark is more on legal issues. I’m learning a lot from that.”

How does Nunziante Magrone differ from Gorrissen Federspiel as a workplace?

“In Italy there’s a clear hierarchy. For example, I quickly noticed that the boss is addressed as “avvocato”, i.e. with the title, as was customary in Denmark many years ago. I’m probably more of a flat hierarchy person, but on the other hand, it has given me a greater understanding of how authority is viewed in many foreign countries. It’s something I can use when I, as a Dane, work with international relations.”

What does it mean to you that Gorrissen Federspiel supports the development of your international experience?

“I really appreciate that. To me, Gorrissen Federspiel’s international focus is not just something they say they want to focus on, but something they do. In my experience, it’s up to me to figure out what I want, and then there’s a shared focus on how we realise those ambitions.”

What is your best advice for colleagues considering a secondment abroad?

“It’s by far the easiest thing to stay in Denmark, and that’s exactly why you should go abroad. There’ll be things that are new, you’ll have to get by in a foreign language, and so on. But it’s worth it. You gain an international network and develop your legal competences. I strongly recommend it.”

Chastine Elisa Christensen Schmidt, 32 Attorney, Dispute Resolution

Seconded to Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz (WLRK) in New York, USA

Why did you choose to be seconded to Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz in New York?

“Gorrissen Federspiel has a large international network, but it’s no secret that a secondment to WLRK was at the top of my wish list. For a law geek like me, it was a unique opportunity to peek into the WLRK engine room and see how they operate at one of the world’s most prestigious law firms. And of course, it was great that the office is in New York, which is a fantastic city.”

What were your personal and professional objectives for the secondment?

“This summer I’ll have worked at Gorrissen Federspiel for nine years. A change of scenery was really healthy; an opportunity to wipe the slate clean and throw myself into the deep end. It was extremely rewarding to travel to the other side of the world and realise that the basic training at Gorrissen Federspiel has equipped me well and enabled me to contribute on an equal footing with my American colleagues. We can easily blend in – even when the level is very high. Personally, it’s given me a huge boost.”

Which matters were you involved in?

“Among other things, I worked on the Twitter lawsuit against Elon Musk. It’s funny, because I remember sitting at home in Copenhagen reading the news that he had bought Twitter, and a few months later I was working on the case in New York. WLRK represented Twitter in the case, which essentially sought to commit Elon Musk to complete the acquisition at the agreed price. It was a fast-track case and I was therefore lucky enough to be involved in the case almost from the beginning until the acquisition was finalised. I was part of both the discovery and deposition track and had the opportunity to draft a few procedural submissions. The first two tracks were particularly exciting from a Danish perspective, as we don’t have a discovery or deposition system in Danish law. I spent a lot of time in San Francisco, where I helped prepare senior managers for their depositions. It was awesome, fun and a bit frightening to do witness preparation with members of Twitter’s management team. I’ve done a lot of witness preparation at Gorrissen Federspiel, but this was different. It went really well and, as I said, it just confirmed that even if you don’t know the legal system in another country, you can still fulfil a role in a team and do important work.”

What does it mean to you that Gorrissen Federspiel supports the development of your international experience?

“Our international network is something we value highly at Gorrissen Federspiel. My secondment to WLRK gave me the opportunity to contribute to and further develop that network, and I’ve built personal relationships both with my American colleagues but also with other international visiting attorneys during my secondment. Recently, I was looking for an American expert for one of our major court cases and I called someone from WLRK to help me out. I hope to return the favour one day when my international colleagues need a Nordic or European perspective.”

What was it like to live in New York?

“It was fantastic. We stayed in the centre of Manhattan on 6th Avenue; the same street that WLRK is on. We joked that I could live my whole life on 6th Avenue – working, living, exercising, shopping and so on. It took me 22 minutes to walk to work in New York, just like it does in Copenhagen, yet there was a world of difference. Walking there with all the New Yorkers who were also on their way to work in the morning was very special and unique to be a part of. I travelled there with my husband, and although we’ve travelled a lot together, it was a great experience to have a daily life together in a foreign country. My husband writes a lot in his spare time and took a lot of writing courses in both New York and Portland, so it’s been a great experience for him as well.”

What is your best advice for colleagues considering a secondment abroad?

“Do it. It’s an amazing experience. You go through the whole emotional spectrum on a secondment, and I’ve grown enormously – both professionally and personally. I’ve gained much more from it than I could’ve possibly imagined. In any case, don’t let the fear of whether you can contribute in an unknown market hold you back, because you can. You may not know all the contexts when you find yourself in a new place, but if you’re willing to work hard, you’ll succeed.”

Studying in Florence and New York

Victoria Krebs and Emilie Lund-Andersen chose to study for an LL.M. in Italy and the United States, respectively. The aim for both of them was to be in an international academic environment where they can gain better understanding of the law in other countries and at the same time enhance their professional profile.

Victoria Krebs

Victoria advises Danish and international companies on competition law. In addition to her work as an attorney at Gorrissen Federspiel, Victoria is an external lecturer in Competition and Marketing Law at the University of Copenhagen, where she has also previously lectured on EU law. Victoria is studying for her LL.M. at the European University Institute (EUI) in Florence.

Why did you choose to study for an LL.M.?

“Since I started law school, I’ve dreamed of studying for an LL.M. This dream was only reinforced when I went on exchange to Brisbane, Australia, as part of my Master’s programme. In addition, the timing is good. I’ve been working with the law in practice for several years now. Now I want to dive back into the books and revisit theory with a new perspective.”

Why did you choose the European University Institute (EUI) in Florence?

“I chose the EUI because it has a unique, international academic environment and a focus on legal research. I applied for this programme with a specific research project in competition law, which I’ll be working on while I’m here. My supervisor is a professor specialising in competition law. He was also one of the reasons I came here. He is highly competent and has around 15 students researching in this area of the law.

Therefore, there’s ample opportunity to interact with others who also have a keen interest in competition law. In addition, we’re a diverse group of students and professors from many nationalities, which means that no single way of thinking dominates the programme. We come from very different backgrounds and legal systems. That makes for some good discussions.”

What do you expect from the programme – professionally and personally?

“Professionally, I’d like to gain a broader and more international perspective on my area of specialisation. Personally, it’s a dream of mine to live in Italy and to learn Italian. Italians are by nature genuinely friendly people, and a city like Florence is incredibly beautiful. It’s often described as a treasure trove of art, and with good reason.”

What strikes you as different from the Danish approach to education?

“There are no traditional subjects such as competition law or marketing law. Rather, it’s more methodological subjects to support your writing process. It’s an exciting and completely different way to approach the law.”

What does it mean to you that Gorrissen Federspiel supports your international education?

“It means a lot. Since I started as an assistant attorney, the partners in my group have known that I wanted to study for an LL.M., and we’ve regularly discussed the timing. In this way, they’ve been instrumental in making it happen. Sometimes life gets in the way of your dreams and goals because you’re on a hamster wheel. But Gorrissen Federspiel has very actively checked in and done their part to help me realise my ambitions.”

Emilie Lund-Andersen

Emilie is an assistant attorney at Gorrissen Federspiel, where she advises Danish and international clients on commercial and corporate law matters. In addition, she advises on investment screening (FDI) and Compliance & Sustainability. Emilie is studying for an LL.M. at Columbia University in New York.

Why did you choose to study for an LL.M.?

“I want to specialise in corporate law and M&A transactions. The United States drives much of the international developments in this area, which also influence Denmark. In addition, Columbia University has a strong profile as one of the eight Ivy League universities in the US and is highly recognised in the field of law. On a more personal level, I’ve spent a lot of time in New York, which I think has a very special atmosphere. It’s as if the city is somehow at the forefront of the future.”

What strikes you as different from the Danish approach to education?

“The American approach is based on the Socratic method, where the lecturer engages in a dialogue with the students. This means that you must be well prepared for each lecture because you never know if you’ll be called upon. In Denmark, people are more used to listening while a lecturer goes through the material. In addition, you can build a closer relationship with the professors because they have office hours. This is an opportunity to meet face-to-face with a lecturer and discuss, for example, a specific lecturing issue or broader aspects of a subject. The professors are often either leading academics or practitioners in their field and are generally super talented and passionate about what they do, so it’s been very rewarding to be in such an academic environment.”

How can you use this insight into the US legal system when you get home?

“Studying for an LL.M. has given me a deep understanding of the US legal system, including the approach to contracts, corporate matters and M&A transactions in both private equity and listed companies. In relation to the role of adviser, I’ve been trained in negotiation and in reflecting on why the law is the way it is. This is something that makes me a sharper adviser in terms of identifying the clients’ needs and advising them in the best possible way. In addition, I’ve gained good insight into what aspects international clients value, which can also benefit me as an adviser in Corporate/M&A. Finally, I’ve built up a professional network of lawyers from different parts of the world.”

What has been the biggest benefit so far?

“In addition to the generally high academic level of the programme, it’s been interesting to hear the other LL.M. students talk about their countries’ legal systems and how the law works in their jurisdictions. In addition to my studies, I assist at a law journal where I help publish articles on international law. It’s been fun and rewarding. In addition, it’s incredibly inspiring to meet so many different people. The campus is a great mix of nationalities, ethnicities and religious backgrounds. When I’m not in the library, we spend time in New York and enjoy all it has to offer. The university is not far from Central Park, and I often use the park for jogging or walking. I’ve also been to the US Open tennis tournament, visited MoMA, travelled to Upstate New York where the scenery is beautiful ... there’s always something to do in New York.”