Why did you choose to pursue a career in tax? Was there an ‘aha’ moment? If so, please describe.
I went to law school to become a cool lawyer as portrayed on TV, in the early 90’s, even though I was more into maths in school. During my first lesson on tax, I knew that this was going to be my subject and after that, it never changed.
From your career, is there a particular deal that sticks out to you as a turning point, or watershed moment for you, and why? What did you learn or take away from that deal?
In the early days of my career, I worked extensively with the company that is a well-known pharmaceutical company. Part of the company emanated from a Swedish pharmaceutical company that merged with a US company. The journey I had in these companies really stands out for me since it shows how companies develop and transform over time, and also the people dimension of such changes. Since I am specialized in international individual taxation, I was fortunate to work with a large number of the key executives and even witness their journey.
What do you consider to be the greatest achievements of your career to date?
Much has changed in professional firms, including recognition of the benefits of diversity in how we approach people and their contribution. By being true to my own values and beliefs, I am pleased to have been able to drive and be a part of the change that our organization has undergone during my 25 years with the firm.
Tax work in the pandemic era
What kind of challenges did you face adapting to the workplace amid the pandemic?
Initially, it was crucial to ensure that we could continue to support our clients in a well-structured manner. Thereafter, we needed to quickly understand our clients’ current needs, which differed from client to client.
Are there any initiatives that you have observed which you feel may help your clients deal with the repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic?
As always, a close dialogue with our clients, making sure that we collaborate and, consequently, produce the best output. What was remarkably evident during this period is the realization that strong relationships matter the most because when times are difficult, you need to have people around you that you can open up to and truly trust.
What is the most significant change to your region/jurisdiction’s tax legislation or regulations in the past 12 months?
Sweden introduced the concept of economic employer along with the rules that required Swedish companies to withhold tax when payments were made abroad for the work performed in Sweden. This has put the Swedish companies under a lot of pressure, and it links in with companies’ TP models.
What was one of the most interesting deals you worked on in the past year and why?
I have been part of a team working on the design of a new incentive program for a company that is going to be spun off. To really get into the core of what a new company’s strategy and vision is and to translate that into how the key personnel in the group should be incentivised is always very interesting and also gives a great perspective on what is important versus what is not.
What potential other legislative/regulatory changes are on the horizon that you think will have a big impact on your region/jurisdiction?
BEPS Pillar I and II are highly discussed, at the moment, in Sweden and it is going to be very interesting to witness and be a part of the big shift that we see in terms of tax bases and how tax regulations develop. The kind of fundamental changes we see now have not been seen before during my 25 years in the profession and perhaps, not even in the last 100 years.
A career in tax
What key piece of advice would you give to young attorneys just getting into a firm or entry-level job? Is there something you wish you knew when you were first starting out?
I think the best advice to give is to enjoy and do things that keep you engaged and excited. That will take them a long way and it will provide the energy to do things thoroughly which is the key to be successful. It is important to be true to yourself and not try to be someone else just to fit in. There is room for plenty of different ways of thinking and being, I wish someone had told me that when I started working and was a bit insecure. My dad also told me, “you should not think that people who are more experienced than you are smarter”, which is something I think about quite often even though it was said to me 25 years ago. It goes into many directions.
What does your firm do to nurture and promote talent? Do you think it compares well to others in your market in this area?
We do a lot because, along with serving our clients, this is the most important thing we do! Firstly, we want to create a workplace where our talents feel valued and trusted. When that is in place, we want to lead our talents with our heart and our brain, and we also strive to see each professional as their individual self. As important as teams are, we are individuals and need to be seen individually too. It is known that we compare well to others in our market, but we still need to do a lot more!
If you could introduce one new policy in the legal profession what would it be?
I am not sure if it can be considered as a new policy, but I think we should be better at explaining how important tax and legal is in the world today.
What does the tax function of the future look like?
The tax function of the future will be more data-driven and the combination of the right tools and ERP systems at hand will make sure that the tax department will, as a result, be able to spend more time on value adding work for the company. It is going to be a challenging journey but a very fun and interesting one!
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