Turning learning into impact.🧠 Meet Nikolaj 👋
Trained as a lawyer, Nikolaj Kousgaard joined our Legal team in 2010. Back then, the function consisted of just 37 people across two sites: Billund in Denmark and Enfield in the United States. Today, Legal has grown to more than 130 colleagues in over 10 countries. Nikolaj has grown with it, and now he’s bringing everything he has learned into a new challenge.
“I’ve had several roles within the legal department. A couple of interim leadership roles, and from 2019 the opportunity to build up a Privacy Office function. Now I have left the legal department and joined the Business Service Operations (BSO) organisation to help establish a new function for tax and legal operations. It shows that there are endless opportunities within the LEGO Group, and I have learned and grown a lot within each of the roles.”
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Nikolaj has not only seen Legal evolve, but he has also helped shape it. Throughout his career he has stepped into areas that stretched him and created many opportunities.
“I’ve worked in areas where I didn’t know a lot beforehand, but I’ve always been surrounded by experts to learn from. I’ve had leadership exposure over many years and built a strong network. That’s helped me understand the business better and opened new doors.”
Based in Billund, Nikolaj is investing those years of learning into something new. His focus, a role that bridges two worlds: an established Tax Operations team and a newly created Legal Operations function designed to help teams spend less time navigating complexity and more time enabling great decisions.
“We want to grow but never at the expense of who we are. You feel that every day. As Legal has grown, so has my interest in how support capabilities evolve, scale and work seamlessly with the business.
“It is still about people. What has stayed consistent throughout my career is that relationships matter, trust matters, fairness matters. That is what I want to bring into the way we build services here.”
Legal Operations is a young function, and that is exactly what motivates him.
“In BSO, we have the opportunity to design something from the ground up. We can create new ways of working that help the business move faster while staying true to our values. It’s a chance to connect dots and build capabilities that make it easier for our lawyers to focus on enabling growth and innovation.”
When asked how his work impacts LEGO® fans and consumers, Nikolaj is clear about the role his team plays.
“As a support function, we help the rest of the LEGO Group focus on what they’re good at, designing new products, making sure they hit the shelves, and creating amazing experiences for fans. By removing some of the legal and tax work from them, we free them up to stay creative and innovative. We also make sure the LEGO Group pays its taxes responsibly and protect the LEGO brand through legal terms and enforcement of our intellectual property rights.”
What has struck Nikolaj most since joining BSO is the spirit that defines the organisation.
“People genuinely want to collaborate. There is a mindset of continuous improvement. You feel this energy that says: how can we help each other succeed?”
That collective strength shapes how challenges are handled too.
“I try to look at what we want to achieve and make sure the direction is clear. I work closely with my team and the relevant stakeholders. I’m transparent about challenges and why something may be difficult. It helps us solve things together.”
Reflecting on the LEGO Group’s commitment to work–life balance and the ‘Best of Both’ model, Nikolaj shares how much the flexibility means to him.
“With three children, there are often school meetings and moments where I need to be present at home. The flexibility here makes that easy. I can adjust my day, work a little earlier or later, and still deliver what’s needed. It makes a big difference.”
And what would he say to anyone considering joining the LEGO Group and BSO?
“Explore and be curious. It’s a large organisation to understand, but the more you learn about it, the easier it becomes to have impact.
“Don’t join just because the brick is cool. Join because you want to contribute to a culture of cooperation, respect, and transparency. We’re a flat organisation. You need to work together, listen, and speak up. If you like helping others succeed, this is a great place to be.”
Just imagine your LEGO® career.