Ethics vs the law – same same or different?

Bo Berndtsson
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Ethics vs the law – same same or different? explores business ethics, compliance and the difficult decisions that arise when the law meets reality. Through conversations with experienced compliance and business professionals, we go beyond the basics and dive into grey areas where judgement matters and real impact can be made. Hosted by Bo Berndtsson (BoB Advokater), a senior lawyer with significant in-house experience, the podcast is for lawyers, compliance professionals and business leaders who want to better understand risks, opportunities and how values translate into real-life decisions.

Episodes

  1. 4d ago ·  Bonus

    👉 Bonus episode - Doing more with less

    In this bonus episode of Ethics vs the Law – Same Same or Different?, Bo Berndtsson explores one of the most familiar challenges in ethics and compliance: how to deliver meaningful results when resources are limited. While most compliance professionals would welcome additional budget, headcount or support, the reality is that organisations are constantly balancing competing priorities. So how can compliance teams continue to create value and meet expectations when they are asked to do more with less? Bo discusses two key questions every compliance function should regularly ask itself: Are we focusing on the right activities, and are we working as efficiently as possible? He reflects on the importance of prioritisation, challenging legacy activities, leveraging technology and collaborating with other parts of the business to maximise impact. The episode also highlights the importance of building fact-based business cases and demonstrating how compliance initiatives contribute not only to ethical conduct and legal compliance, but also to long-term business success. A practical reflection on priorities, efficiency and making the most of the resources available. bobadvokater.se

    6 min
  2. 04. Responsible business or hard compliance – same tramline, different stops?

    May 22

    04. Responsible business or hard compliance – same tramline, different stops?

    In this episode of the podcast Ethics vs the Law – same same or different, Bo Berndtsson from BoB Advokater and Ezekiel Ward from North Star Compliance explore one of the most debated questions in today’s compliance landscape: are business ethics and hard compliance moving in different directions, or are they simply different parts of the same journey? As new regulations around sustainability, human rights and responsible business continue to reshape the corporate world, many companies are struggling to balance legal obligations, ethical ambitions and commercial realities. Bo and Zeke discuss whether compliance has become overly technical, how “soft law” gradually turns into hard requirements, and why the discussion should perhaps focus less on labels and more on what actually creates long term successful businesses. The conversation also touches on: ​the shift from soft law to hard law in areas like sustainability and human rights​whether companies should aim to “change the world” or simply operate responsibly​why ethical leadership matters beyond policies and controls​the risks of mixing branding, politics and business ethics​how boards and management can translate high level ambitions into practical day to day business conduct A thoughtful and practical discussion for compliance professionals, legal teams, board members and business leaders trying to navigate the increasingly blurred line between ethics, compliance and responsible business conduct.

    37 min

  3. May 7 ·  Bonus

    👉 Bonus episode – Distributor risks beyond corruption

    In this bonus episode of the podcast Ethics vs the Law – same same or different?, Bo Berndtsson continues the discussion on business model risks and the challenges connected to working through distributors and other third parties. While corruption risk is often the primary focus in third party compliance, Bo highlights two other critical areas that companies must keep in mind: competition law and sanctions/export control risks. The episode explores: • why companies need to be careful not to interfere too much in a distributor’s business  • the competition law risks connected to pricing and end customers  • why sanctions and export controls are becoming increasingly important • the importance of understanding where products ultimately end up  • how compliance risks are shaped by the business model itself  A short but practical reminder that third party risk goes far beyond corruption alone.

    4 min
  4. 03. Business model risks – where compliance really begins

    Apr 22

    03. Business model risks – where compliance really begins

    In this episode of the podcast Ethics vs the Law – same same or different, Bo Berndtsson from BoB Advokater and Ezekiel Ward from North Star Compliance explore one of the most fundamental drivers of compliance risk: the business model itself. How a company chooses to go to market, whether through direct sales, agents or distributors, has a direct impact on both risk exposure and control. But in practice, these models are rarely clear-cut, and what companies call a “distributor” or “agent” does not always reflect what is actually happening. In this conversation, Bo and Zeke discuss why mapping your intermediaries is often the missing starting point, how legacy setups can create hidden risks, and why companies sometimes take on significant risk for relatively limited business upside. They also look at the role of compliance as a true business partner, not just a control function, and why understanding how the business really operates is key to making better decisions from the start. Expect practical insights on: the three main routes to market and how they differ in risk and controlwhy labels and contracts are less important than actual behaviourhow to map and assess intermediaries across marketsbalancing commercial opportunity with compliance riskhow compliance can support better business decisions A practical discussion for anyone working with compliance, legal or business strategy who wants to understand where risk really begins, and how to manage it.

    30 min

  5. Apr 9 ·  Bonus

    👉 Bonus episode – Managing risk in real time

    In this bonus episode of Ethics vs the Law – same same or different, Bo Berndtsson reflects on the discussion around risk assessments and highlights an important aspect that is often overlooked: how to manage risks as they arise in the day-to-day business. While structured risk assessments form the foundation of a compliance program, they are not enough on their own. Businesses constantly face new situations – entering new markets, engaging new customers, or operating in high-risk environments – where risks need to be assessed in real time. In this short episode, Bo shares practical insights on why companies need clear and robust processes for handling these situations, including when to involve compliance, who should make decisions, and what information is required to properly assess risk. The key takeaway: a strong compliance program is not only about periodic assessments, but about making the right decisions at the right time, based on a clear understanding of risk and accountability.

    3 min
  6. 02. Why do risk analysis – isn’t the ERM process sufficient?

    Apr 2

    02. Why do risk analysis – isn’t the ERM process sufficient?

    In this episode of Ethics vs the Law – same same or different, Bo Berndtsson from BoB Advokater and Ezekiel Ward from North Star Compliance explore the role of risk assessments and ask a fundamental question: are they truly necessary, or is the ERM process enough? Many organisations rely on ERM to identify and manage risks at a high level. But does that really capture the risks that matter in day-to-day business operations? In this episode, we discuss why risk assessments are still critical, what value they bring beyond compliance requirements, and how they help organisations understand how business decisions actually drive risk. We dive into how risk assessments can uncover blind spots, create alignment between compliance and the business, and serve as a foundation for structured planning and stronger compliance programs – whether you are building from scratch or working within a mature setup. Finally, we challenge the idea that ERM alone is sufficient, and explore why compliance risks often require a different lens altogether. Bo Berndtsson is advokat and founder of BoB Advokater, a Swedish law firm focused on business ethics, compliance and business law. With senior experience as a partner at Setterwalls Advokatbyrå, Chief Compliance Officer from the Volvo Group and as in-house counsel in multinational companies and having a practical touch, BoB Advokater supports companies, management and boards in navigating complex legal and ethical issues. Read more on ⁠bobadvokater.se ⁠ ⁠LinkedIn profile⁠ Ezekiel (Zeke) Ward has been Chief Compliance Officer at Volvo Group and Yara International. He is a lawyer by education and a Fellow Chartered Accountant (ICAEW), with a forensic background at PwC and KPMG. Zeke founded North Star Compliance Ltd. in 2019 to offer leading companies pragmatic compliance advice. Our work is focused on ethics & compliance for multinationals, with deep expertise on integrity due diligence, third party risk management and investigations. ⁠LinkedIn profile⁠ ⁠Home | North Star Compliance

    37 min
  7. 👉 Bonus episode - Stakeholder management

    Mar 26 ·  Bonus

    👉 Bonus episode - Stakeholder management

    In this bonus episode, I continue the conversation with Zeke and take a closer look at one of the most important yet often underestimated aspects of compliance work, stakeholder management. We explore who the key stakeholders really are in a multinational organisation, from legal and leadership to audit, finance and procurement, and why their influence shapes how compliance actually works in practice. We also touch on the growing importance of external stakeholders such as customers, governments and investors, and how their expectations can directly impact business decisions. Beyond mapping stakeholders, we discuss something just as critical, who your allies are. From HR and legal to an often overlooked partner, the branding and communications team, we unpack how collaboration across functions can strengthen both impact and credibility. A short but insightful conversation about relationships, influence and the human side of compliance.

    6 min
  8. 01. Compliance systems and software - saviour or false prophet

    Mar 19

    01. Compliance systems and software - saviour or false prophet

    In this episode of the podcast Ethics vs the Law – same same or different, Bo Berndtsson from BoB Advokater and Ezekiel Ward from North Star Compliance tackles the question of compliance systems and software and tries to figure out if they are a saviour or a false prophet. A lot of companies have or are considering acquiring compliance systems to support in managing important tasks within the compliance programs such as third parties and whistleblowing parts. In the episode we discuss what the systems are supposed to be doing and what they are not doing, the prerequisites for making it work as well as the value of the systems in order to answer if the compliance systems are a saviour for the compliance team or if it is something you put your trust in that will not deliver, i.e. a false prophet. Bo Berndtsson is advokat and founder of BoB Advokater, a Swedish law firm focused on business ethics, compliance and business law. With senior experience as a partner at Setterwalls Advokatbyrå, Chief Compliance Officer from the Volvo Group and as in-house counsel in multinational companies and having a practical touch, BoB Advokater supports companies, management and boards in navigating complex legal and ethical issues. Read more on bobadvokater.se LinkedIn profile Ezekiel (Zeke) Ward has been Chief Compliance Officer at Volvo Group and Yara International. He is a lawyer by education and a Fellow Chartered Accountant (ICAEW), with a forensic background at PwC and KPMG. Zeke founded North Star Compliance Ltd. in 2019 to offer leading companies pragmatic compliance advice. Our work is focused on ethics & compliance for multinationals, with deep expertise on integrity due diligence, third party risk management and investigations. LinkedIn profile Home | North Star Compliance

    30 min
  • 8 Episodes

About

Ethics vs the law – same same or different? explores business ethics, compliance and the difficult decisions that arise when the law meets reality. Through conversations with experienced compliance and business professionals, we go beyond the basics and dive into grey areas where judgement matters and real impact can be made. Hosted by Bo Berndtsson (BoB Advokater), a senior lawyer with significant in-house experience, the podcast is for lawyers, compliance professionals and business leaders who want to better understand risks, opportunities and how values translate into real-life decisions.

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