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Mette Illum

Head of Legal, attorney-at-law, General Counsel

About Me

Senior legal executive and functional General Counsel with 13+ years advising high-growth international technology and SaaS companies on commercial, regulatory, and strategic legal matters across European, UK and global markets. Admitted to the Danish Bar. LL.M., University of Copenhagen · Fordham Law School Exchange (NYC) · Qualified DPO · Global MBA candidate, Queen Mary University of London. I operate as the senior-most legal voice within my organisation - a member of the operational management team with full legal accountability across all jurisdictions, including the EU, UK, Middle East and Oceania. My practice spans AI governance, data protection (GDPR), international commercial contracts, M&A transactions, corporate governance, employment law, and IP, with hands-on experience managing outside counsel and building legal functions from zero in fast-scaling, PE-backed environments. I served as legal lead on Tjekvik's acquisition by Standout Capital (Stockholm), managing the full legal workstream of a cross-border PE transaction. I have since supported the post-acquisition legal integration and continue to drive the company's international expansion across Europe and beyond. I advise boards and C-suite leadership on regulatory risk, strategic transactions, and the legal dimensions of technology deployment — including the emerging EU AI Act framework and responsible AI governance. I bring commercial pragmatism to complex legal challenges, and I am experienced operating as the sole senior legal authority in high-stakes, cross-functional environments. Early in my career, I co-managed a boutique surf resort on the Galápagos Islands - an experience that shaped the cross-cultural fluency, operational instincts, and comfort with ambiguity that I bring to every international legal environment I work in today. Languages: Danish (native) · English (full professional proficiency) Based between Denmark and England.

Jurisdiction

United Kingdom | Denmark | Norway | Sweden

Experience

Seniority LevelDirector
Years of Experience10-15 years
Current StatusActive
Head of Legal, Attorney-at-law, Functioning General CounselTjekvik
2022 - Present

Senior legal executive and functional General Counsel with 13+ years advising high-growth international technology and SaaS companies on commercial, regulatory, and strategic legal matters across European, UK and global markets. Admitted to the Danish Bar. LL.M., University of Copenhagen · Fordham Law School Exchange (NYC) · Qualified DPO · Global MBA candidate, Queen Mary University of London. I operate as the senior-most legal voice within my organisation - a member of the operational management team with full legal accountability across all jurisdictions, including the EU, UK, Middle East and Oceania. My practice spans AI governance, data protection (GDPR), international commercial contracts, M&A transactions, corporate governance, employment law, and IP, with hands-on experience managing outside counsel and building legal functions from zero in fast-scaling, PE-backed environments. I served as legal lead on Tjekvik's acquisition by Standout Capital (Stockholm), managing the full legal workstream of a cross-border PE transaction. I have since supported the post-acquisition legal integration and continue to drive the company's international expansion across Europe and beyond. I advise boards and C-suite leadership on regulatory risk, strategic transactions, and the legal dimensions of technology deployment — including the emerging EU AI Act framework and responsible AI governance. I bring commercial pragmatism to complex legal challenges, and I am experienced operating as the sole senior legal authority in high-stakes, cross-functional environments. Early in my career, I co-managed a boutique surf resort on the Galápagos Islands - an experience that shaped the cross-cultural fluency, operational instincts, and comfort with ambiguity that I bring to every international legal environment I work in today. Languages: Danish (native) · English (full professional proficiency) Based between Denmark and England.

Education

Degree of Bachelor of LawsUniversity of Copenhagen
2008 - 2011
Masters of Master of LawsUniversity of Copenhagen
2011 - 2013
Diploma of Summer ProgrammeFordham University School of Law
2012 - 2012
Masters of Global MBA University of London - Queen Mary's
2025 - Present

Skills

Core skills0
Languages5

Languages

English
Danish
German
Swedish
Norwegian