Aida von Schulman

Dr Aida von Schulman, LLM, PhD, is an international lawyer, independent arbitrator, and behavioural strategist with 20 years of experience at the intersection of law, business, and sustainability frameworks. Known for her sharp legal mind and strategic insight, she has advocated for landmark EU laws, including the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) effective May 2024 and the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)—guiding them from early advocacy to full adoption across all 27 EU Member States. Her academic background spans studies in International Business and International Law, European Economics and EU Laws, and Behavioural Psychology, with her first studies initially financed through military service, reflecting a multidisciplinary expertise that underpins her work across law, business, and sustainability.

At Finland’s Ministry of the Interior, Legal Affairs Unit, she worked on EU-funded projects advancing equality and diversity through the National Equality Act (Anti-Discrimination Law). This benchmark legislation strengthened inclusivity across Finland and the EU by advancing guidelines and laws protecting the civil rights of Indigenous Peoples, including the Sámi and Finnish Kale (Romani People), under the European Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. As Political and Legal Affairs Attaché at the Embassy of Canada, she contributed to Arctic ESG policies, sustainable land-use initiatives, and Indigenous rights legislation during Canada’s Arctic Council Chairmanship.

Internationally, Dr von Schulman has collaborated with the highest levels of government, royal offices, and global institutions on sustainable infrastructure and climate action. At COP28 in Dubai, facilitated the first EU–UAE collaboration among women lawyers to advance women in law and leadership roles, leading to a royal decree law, effective January 2025, mandating the inclusion of women on corporate boards in the UAE. She has also worked with the Government of the Sultanate of Oman and the Royal Family Office on Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said’s capital city vision, introducing the country’s first railway and metro projects to tackle climate action, boost employment, and advance women in leadership. Additionally, she advised the Government of India and the Government of Maharashtra on rail and metro initiatives under Prime Minister Modi’s Building India’s Future vision, strengthening infrastructure and addressing climate challenges.

Dr von Schulman has managed complex arbitration and mediation cases involving multinational corporations, achieving discreet resolutions in crisis situations and successful outcomes in high-value international M&A and commercial disputes. She advises Fortune 500 executives and consults governments worldwide on aligning legal frameworks with ESG principles, human rights obligations, the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and evolving corporate compliance requirements. She is the first Indigenous woman Vice President of SwissRapide AG, a privately owned Maglev rail company, and she leads ESG risk strategies for large-scale railway infrastructure projects while serving as an independent consultant to Europe’s highest courts and international judicial bodies. 

Operating at the highest levels of law and business, she combines legal precision with behavioural analytics to counsel senior leaders, negotiate cross-border disputes, and navigate the intersections of law, policy, and business. She is a member of multiple arbitration associations, legal think-tanks and Founder of Women in Law Nordic, Europe’s largest organization for women in the legal profession across Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Norway and Iceland. Dr von Schulman is recognized globally for shaping legal frameworks, advancing sustainability, and promoting women in leadership roles. She was honoured at the 2024 Justitia (Justice) Awards for International Leaders/Lifetime Achievements in Vienna, Austria, for her lifelong contributions to the rule of law, climate justice advocacy, and women’s leadership in the legal profession. Her multifaceted expertise, spanning law, business, and sustainability, has made her a sought-after advisor for those shaping the future of legal and corporate governance on a global scale.