Ian Leedham has served as LKQ Europe’s Vice President Legal & Compliance since April 2021. A role which sees him managing a team of around 20 Compliance and Legal Specialists across 20 European operating countries. The focus of the team remains to set up common ways of working and activities across Europe to improve compliance and legal support across Europe. This includes centralizing our Intellectual Property (IP) portfolios to more efficiently manage our valuable IP function. This requires implementing a European-wide coordinated Legal and Compliance function for the new LKQ head office based in Zug, Switzerland. Prior to his European Role, Ian was Head of Legal for LKQ Europe’s Euro Car Parts, UK & ROI region, for two years. Before joining the business, Ian Leedham led various senior commercial, legal and compliance roles in water services company Thames Water, utilities provider National Grid, gas company Lattice Group and oil and gas multinational BG Group - since acquired by Shell. Ian started his in-house career as Group General Counsel of Specialist Computer Holdings following 5 years in private practice.

During his career Ian has worked on a large number of projects and change management activities in the UK, Europe and the US. His experience and responsibility has been varied including responsibility for corporate, commercial legal matters, disputes, construction, IP, employment, health & safety, property, compliance, risk and commercial functions.

An In-house legal and compliance team has to be able to demonstrate close alignment with business colleagues and partner with them to produce value creation and achieve strategic business objectives.

IAN LEEDHAM 
vice President Legal & Compliance, LKQ Europe

A recognised contributor to innovation by the in-house legal community and frequent speaker on Legal Department Management, Ian Leedham has been involved in various legal panel reviews and in-house innovations - acting as a strong advocate in the need for legal teams to be risk, compliance and business-focussed, and able to clearly demonstrate alignment with the business and contribution to value creation.