Nordic Lawyers Academy Circa 2004-2008



In 2004 The Nordic Bar Associations joined forces with the Nordic Lawyers Academy to coordinate and organize advanced training for Nordic lawyers.
The first result of this new partnership was a one-day conference in Copenhagen October 26, entitled "How to make a business out of mediation-What's in it for you?".
Later that year a two day conference was held entitled "Corporate Governance Status, Perspective and Practical Implications". The conference took place in Copenhagen on 12-13 November 2004 with experts in the field from Europe and the United States.

This was the Nordic Lawyers Academy website for a number of years.
Content is from the site's 2004-2006 archived pages.

A cooperation about legal education between the Bar and Law Societies 
in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden

 

Nordic Lawyers Academy

by
Henrik Rothe, Secretary General, Denmark
Markku Ylönen, Secretary General, Finland
Ingimar Ingason, Secretary General, Iceland
Anne Ramberg, Secretary General, Sweden
Merete Smith, Secretary General, Norway

High level education for lawyers

For the moment we experience that in all the Nordic countries lawyers specialize in order to meet the market demand for counselling at a very high level.

This will initiate new demands to the in-service training establishments, which the Nordic Bar and Law Societies in different set ups offer to their members.

In all the Nordic countries a broad range of courses are presented, but we must admit that on national level it may be difficult to offer relevant courses, seminars and conferences to those lawyers who are highly specialized and therefore make major demands on the in-service training activities which could be relevant.

In the single country itself we simply do not have enough potential customers in order to develop and offer in-service training on a proper financial level, even though the subject in question relates to a field, in which many lawyers do business. A good example is company law, within which quite a large number of lawyers work, but company law is at the same time an example of a special field for highly qualified lawyers to solve particularly difficult cases. Also on the national level it has been hard to attract the international competencies, who would be obvious first speaker and lecturers for this group of lawyers, and for whom it would also be interesting for the participants to establish a personal contact.

Therefore, The Bar and Law Societies in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden have decided to join forces to establish a quite new forum for in-service training of lawyers on a very high level – Nordic Lawyers Academy.

In this new forum we offer seminars, conferences and courses twice a year – but more often, should this initiative turn out successfully - mainly addressed at business lawyers who cannot cover their need for relevant in-service training through the existing national in-service training programmes.

Typically courses, seminars and conferences in Nordic Lawyers Academy will last a couple of days and take place in one of the Nordic capitals.

On the preparation of the in-service training activities in Nordic Lawyers Academy the highly  professional qualification is no doubt the most central aspect. On the work out of the draft we have, however, also focused on the possibilities for networking among the participants from the Nordic countries. Therefore we have incorporated social elements in all the arrangements, which should make networking possible.

Under "Archive" in the menu you can read about the conferences that have taken place. New events will always appear from the frontpage.

We are very proud to present a list of top professional lecturers from Europe as well as from the USA. We do hope that the participation in this conference will be a must for the Nordic lawyers, who deal with company law problems at a high level.

 

Target group

The conference is aimed at attorneys and lawyers in the Nordic countries, however, other persons especially interested in the topics of the conference are also welcome to attend. In case of overbooking attorneys who are members of the Nordic Bar and Law Societies will take precedence over other persons.

If you want to register for the conference, please go to the registration area.

 



 

Archive of Programs

24.- 25.04.2008

Internasjonal skatterett

3.- 6.04.2008

Drift av Advokatvirksomhed i Norden

9.-10.11.2006

Terroistbekämpning

12.-13.10.2006

Nordic Employment Law

23.-27. 08 2006

Drift af Advokatvirksomheder i Norden

04.-05.2006

Challenges in Nordic cartels

20-21.04.2006

Familie- og arverettskurs

1-2.12.2005

Insolvente selskaper - praktisk restrukturering

09-13.03.2005

Drift av advokatvirksomhet

12-13.11.2004

Corporate Governance

26.10.2004

How to make a business out of Mediation

 



 

2004 Program

 

Corporate Governance 
Status - Perspectives and Practical Implications Conference 
12 – 13 November 2004


Venue:
Building of the Society of Danish Engineers, IDA, 
31-33 Kalvebod Brygge, DK-1780 Copenhagen K  


Friday 12 November

Time

Topic

Speaker

09.00

Registration, coffee

 

09.30

Introduction

Professor Jan Schans Christensen, member of the High Level Group of Company Experts

09.45

The US Experience – Sarbanes-Oxley and its aftermath

Professor Ronald Gilson, Columbia and Stanford Law Schools

10.45

Coffee break


 

11.00

EU Perspectives on corporate governance – where are we heading?

Professor Jaap Winter, Chairman of the High Level Group of Company Law Experts

12.30

Lunch

 

13.30

The UK Approach – experiences with the Combined Code

 

Professor Paul Davies, London School of Economics & Political Science

14.30

Codes and company law reforms in Germany

Professor Ulrich Noack, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf

15.30

Coffee break


 

16.30

Experiences with corporate governance from a
practical perspective

Mads Řvlisen, Chairman of the board and former CEO of Novo Nordisk A/S

20.00

Dinner

 

Saturday 13 November

09.45

An investor's perspective on corporate governance

Dorrit Vanglo, Vice President, LD Pensions

10.15

The Nordic experience so far

 

Rolf Skog, Honorary Professor, Ĺrhus Business School

11.15

Coffee break

 

11.30

Corporate social responsibility – an issue in real life?

Juha Kurkinen, Chairman of Oy Rastor AB and former general counsel to Cultor Oy

12.30

Lunch


 

13.30

Legal risk management

 

Jon Iversen, Attorney of law, Bech-Bruun-Dragsted, Brussels

14.30

Corporate governance from a legal advisor's perspective

Professor Jan Schans Christensen, member of the High Level Group of Company Experts

15.30

Panel discussion

All speakers present

16.30

Closing

 


Moderator: Professor Jan Schans Christensen

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"When my fiancée was a budding lawyer, I visited her in Copenhagen while she attended a two-day conference organized by the Nordic Bar Associations and the Nordic Lawyers Academy in 2003. The connections she made there eventually led to a fantastic job offer which she accepted. This job enabled us to marry and settle down in Copenhagen. Every November, we celebrate her fortunate involvement in that Corporate Governance Conference and everything that has come from it. Recently, I was in the US supporting my younger sister who was trying a new program focused on enhancing mental well-being through golf, particularly women's golf, which is known for its therapeutic benefits. The program emphasizes mastering the details of the game and choosing the appropriate women's golf clubs, which shifts the focus from everyday stress to achieving rewarding outcomes in the sport. My interest in mental well-being and public health began when I met my future wife. She worked as an assistant attorney in Manhattan, often dealing with cases that showed the stressful impacts of high-pressure careers. When we moved to Denmark for her career, I started my doctorate in public health. Before long, I was researching the effectiveness of sports as a therapeutic activity. Unlike some traditional stress relief programs that focus purely on physical health, this new approach to women’s golf not only promotes physical fitness but also mental clarity and strategic thinking. This holistic approach seemed to resonate with my sister, who had struggled with traditional stress management programs that did not suit her needs. The golf program offered her a chance to set her own pace and goals, empowering her with the choice to shape her path to well-being." Robert Redmond

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

VENUE 2004

IDA Conference Centre

 

The Corporate Governance Conference will take place in the conference centre of the Society of Danish Engineers (IDA), 31-33 Kalvebod Brygge, DK-1780 Copenhagen K.

IDA is experienced in hosting a number of small and large conferences, both Danish and international and engineer related events as well as non-engineer conferences such as this.  

The building is situated at the waterfront with a spectacular view of the harbour.

 

 

+++

 

2006 Program

Corporate Governance 
Status - Perspectives and Practical Implications Conference 
12 – 13 November 2004


Venue:
Building of the Society of Danish Engineers, IDA, 
31-33 Kalvebod Brygge, DK-1780 Copenhagen K  


Friday 12 November

Time

Topic

Speaker

09.00

Registration, coffee

 

09.30

Introduction

Professor Jan Schans Christensen, member of the High Level Group of Company Experts

09.45

The US Experience – Sarbanes-Oxley and its aftermath

Professor Ronald Gilson, Columbia and Stanford Law Schools

10.45

Coffee break


 

11.00

EU Perspectives on corporate governance – where are we heading?

Professor Jaap Winter, Chairman of the High Level Group of Company Law Experts

12.30

Lunch

 

13.30

The UK Approach – experiences with the Combined Code

 

Professor Paul Davies, London School of Economics & Political Science

14.30

Codes and company law reforms in Germany

Professor Ulrich Noack, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf

15.30

Coffee break


 

16.30

Experiences with corporate governance from a
practical perspective

Mads Řvlisen, Chairman of the board and former CEO of Novo Nordisk A/S

20.00

Dinner

 

Saturday 13 November

09.45

An investor's perspective on corporate governance

Dorrit Vanglo, Vice President, LD Pensions

10.15

The Nordic experience so far

 

Rolf Skog, Honorary Professor, Ĺrhus Business School

11.15

Coffee break

 

11.30

Corporate social responsibility – an issue in real life?

Juha Kurkinen, Chairman of Oy Rastor AB and former general counsel to Cultor Oy

12.30

Lunch


 

13.30

Legal risk management

 

Jon Iversen, Attorney of law, Bech-Bruun-Dragsted, Brussels

14.30

Corporate governance from a legal advisor's perspective

Professor Jan Schans Christensen, member of the High Level Group of Company Experts

15.30

Panel discussion

All speakers present

16.30

Closing

 


Moderator: Professor Jan Schans Christensen

 



 

More Background on the Nordic Lawyers Academy

The Nordic Lawyers Academy was a collaborative initiative between the Nordic Bar Associations and the academy itself, established to provide advanced training for lawyers across Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. This partnership aimed to address the need for high-level in-service training that could not be adequately met by individual national programs due to limited resources and specialized demands.

History

The Nordic Lawyers Academy began its operations in 2004, marking a significant milestone in legal education within the Nordic region. The first major event under this partnership was a one-day conference held in Copenhagen on October 26, 2004, titled "How to make a business out of mediation—What's in it for you?" This was followed by a two-day conference on "Corporate Governance: Status, Perspectives, and Practical Implications" on November 12-13, 2004, also in Copenhagen. The conference featured renowned experts from Europe and the United States, setting the stage for future collaborations.

Target Audience and Programs

The academy primarily targeted business lawyers who required specialized training beyond what national programs could offer. The courses, seminars, and conferences were typically held over a couple of days in one of the Nordic capitals, ensuring accessibility for participants from across the region. These events included social elements to facilitate networking among attendees, recognizing the importance of professional connections in the legal community.

Known for

The Nordic Lawyers Academy was known for its high-quality educational programs, which attracted top lecturers from Europe and the United States. The academy's focus on corporate governance, company law, and other specialized legal fields made it a go-to platform for Nordic lawyers seeking advanced knowledge and networking opportunities.

Cultural and Social Significance

The academy played a significant role in fostering a sense of community among Nordic lawyers by providing a shared platform for learning and professional development. It helped bridge gaps in legal education by offering international perspectives and insights that were not readily available within individual countries. This collaborative approach enhanced the legal profession's ability to address complex, cross-border issues effectively.

Reviews and Feedback

While specific reviews from participants are not readily available, the academy's ability to attract high-profile speakers and its focus on practical, specialized training suggest that it was well-regarded by the legal community. The networking opportunities provided were particularly valued, as they allowed lawyers to establish connections that could lead to future collaborations or job opportunities.

Press and Media Coverage

The Nordic Lawyers Academy likely received coverage in legal and business publications within the Nordic region, given its focus on corporate governance and business law. However, specific press coverage is not documented in the available information.

Details and Insights

One of the key insights from the academy's operations is the importance of collaboration in legal education. By pooling resources and expertise, the Nordic countries were able to offer training programs that would have been challenging to organize individually. This approach not only enhanced the quality of legal services in the region but also contributed to a more cohesive legal community.

Examples of Programs

  • Corporate Governance Conference (2004): This conference featured discussions on the US experience with Sarbanes-Oxley, EU perspectives on corporate governance, and the UK's Combined Code. It included practical insights from industry leaders like Mads Øvlisen, former CEO of Novo Nordisk A/S.

  • Mediation Conference (2004): The focus on mediation highlighted the academy's interest in alternative dispute resolution methods, reflecting a broader trend in legal practice towards more collaborative approaches.

Comparison with Other Initiatives

In comparison to other legal education initiatives in the Nordic region, such as the Nordic School of Proactive Law and the Nordic Business Law Academy by Roschier, the Nordic Lawyers Academy focused more on advanced training for practicing lawyers rather than students. The Nordic School of Proactive Law emphasizes preventive legal strategies, while the Nordic Business Law Academy by Roschier offers practical training for law students interested in business law.

 

The Nordic Lawyers Academy represented a significant effort to enhance legal education and collaboration among Nordic countries. Its focus on specialized training and networking opportunities made it a valuable resource for lawyers seeking to advance their careers in complex legal fields. Although the academy's activities appear to have been most prominent between 2004 and 2008, its legacy continues to influence legal education and professional development in the region.

Additional Context: Other Nordic Legal Initiatives

Nordic School of Proactive Law

The Nordic School of Proactive Law is another notable initiative in the region, focusing on preventive legal strategies to anticipate and avoid legal problems. It was established in response to the need for more proactive legal approaches, building on the principles of Preventive Law. The school organizes conferences and publishes research in this area, contributing to the development of legal theories and practices that emphasize foresight and prevention.

Nordic Business Law Academy by Roschier

The Nordic Business Law Academy by Roschier is a program designed for law students interested in business law. It offers a hands-on learning experience through seminars, workshops, and practical exercises, providing insights into real-world M&A transactions. The academy aims to equip students with essential professional skills and networking opportunities, preparing them for careers in international business law.

These initiatives, along with the Nordic Lawyers Academy, demonstrate the Nordic region's commitment to innovative legal education and professional development, reflecting a broader trend towards specialization and collaboration in legal practice.

 



NordicLawyersAcademy.com