Meet a lawyer: Contracts should be as easy to understand as the rules of a game
Anne Marie Herforth is a senior legal adviser at TTO – and she loves law. When drafting contracts, she places great emphasis on dialogue with the researcher: “
“A contract is an agreement on expectations with the partner – what should we do, what do we want, and what are we allowed to do in our relationship? It therefore requires clarification and overview to create a good contract for all parties. I think contracts should be as intuitively understandable as the rules of a game,” says Anne Marie Herforth.
Enthusiastic about research and researchers
In the world of research, the focus is on intellectual property rights and GDPR. And for Anne Marie, it is important to protect the integrity of researchers.
“I know that researchers can have very busy periods. So I have a flexible approach to collaboration, but I always try to have a chat to clarify things. Law does not work if we don’t connect it to real life. Facts and context are important. This approach results in precise contracts that protect both the researcher and their research,” says Anne Marie Herforth.
Anne Marie enjoys working with researchers. “I really like that they are nerdy, curious and open to change based on new information and knowledge. They aren’t quite so keen on administrative and bureaucratic matters, but I almost always manage to convince them of the value of a good contract,” she says.
Anne Marie's motto is: we are strongest together. “We tend to succeed when we help each other. I measure success in whether a researcher's project takes off and is carried out legally and responsibly.”
About Anne Marie
Trained market economist and lawyer. Worked in law firms and at Vestas, and has been a lecturer at VIA University College. Employed at TTO since 1 April 2020.
In her spare time, she writes children's books, sings and dances.