At an award ceremony held during the Swedish Company Lawyers Association Spring meeting on 3 April 2014, Stefan Backman, general counsel at Tele 2 Sverige AB, received the award Company Lawyer of the Year 2104.
The award was established last year by the Swedish Company Lawyers Association, Vinge and the publication, Affärsvärlden, in order to highlight the important role played by company lawyers in trade and industry. During the nomination period in January and February this year, 40 company lawyers were nominated and Stefan Backman was ultimately chosen from the five finalists on the basis of the following reasoned statement by the jury:“The Company Lawyer of the Year 2014 has actively contributed to public debate in relation to prevalent legal issues and has clearly, competently and factually elucidated the problems relating to privacy and data protection issues. In his capacity as general counsel, the award winner has also been closely involved in the sale of two large divisions. The Company Lawyer of the Year 2014 has also proven to be a role model due to his leadership and consideration for others by, among other things, always being available for his personnel and through his willingness to share his considerable knowledge.”
“I am very happy and honoured to receive this award. I am also glad that the jury’s statement highlighted my part in Tele 2’s opposition to various issues which have constituted a threat to privacy in Sweden in 2013. Privacy is an issue of concern to both our customers and many of us within the company and thus there are a lot of people who are as delighted as I am” says Sefan Beckman general counsel at Tele 2 Sverige.
The jury which awarded Company Lawyer of the Year 2014 consisted of the following persons:
