Ulf Marhenke

Senior Legal Leader | M&A & Corporate | INSEAD Executive Master in Change | AI Integration

Greater Hamburg Area

About

I'm a senior corporate lawyer and change leader with 15+ years of experience across top-tier international law firms (Kirkland & Ellis, Eversheds Sutherland, Fieldfisher) and in-house legal departments of listed and mid-cap companies. What sets me apart is that I don't just practice law—I transform how legal functions operate. After nearly two decades in M&A and corporate law, I completed the Executive Master in Change at INSEAD, where I studied psychodynamic approaches to leadership, organizational development, and transformation. I've since added certifications in AI integration (Hochschule Fresenius & Microsoft) and professional coaching (Co-Active Training Institute). This gives me a rare combination: I understand the substance of complex transactions, the human dynamics of organizational change, and the technological shifts that are reshaping how legal teams work. Most recently, I've served as Interim Senior Legal Counsel at FORVIA HELLA (€6bn automotive supplier, 35,000 employees globally), where I led cross-border M&A transactions, managed external counsel across multiple jurisdictions, and partnered directly with the General Counsel on strategic priorities. I'm currently advising German Mittelstand and listed companies on their commercial contracts, corporate/M&A matters, AI process implementation, and legal strategy. I'm based in Hamburg and open to permanent leadership roles—General Counsel, Head of Legal, or senior transformation advisory—in Germany or internationally. I travel extensively and am comfortable with hybrid or commuting arrangements. If you're looking for a legal leader who combines transactional excellence with genuine change expertise and a future-oriented AI mindset, let's connect. ([email protected], +49 177 598 26 68)

Experience

  • Founder & CEO at Trustwork Consulting
    Feb 2024 - Present · 2 yrs 5 mos

    Consulting in Change & Transformation, Executive Coaching

  • Partner at Trustwork Legal
    Jan 2023 - Present · 3 yrs 6 mos

  • Interim Senior Legal Counsel at GKN Automotive
    May 2026 - Jun 2026 · 2 mos

  • Interim Senior Legal Counsel at PWO Group
    Feb 2026 - May 2026 · 4 mos

    • Partnering with General Counsel on national and international legal matters • Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating commercial contracts across business units • Designing and implementing AI-powered legal processes • Advising internal stakeholders on strategic and operational legal questions

  • Interim Senior Legal Counsel at Confidential ( Stealth Mode )
    Sep 2025 - Feb 2026 · 6 mos

    • Sole in-house lawyer for a leading maritime R&D company • Managing commercial law, export control compliance, and general contract matters • Developing standardized contract templates to improve efficiency and reduce risk • Developing organization-wide AI training sessions • Providing strategic legal advice to the executive management team