Team size: Three

What are the projects that you are most proud of working on over the past 12 months?

We have successfully been able to proceed towards an exit situation regarding the sale of a major parking facility in Helsinki, Finland, a project for which we were the manager on behalf of the investors.

How do you approach managing legal aspects during periods of instability or crisis to ensure the organisation’s resilience?

I have learned and gained experience that one can best go forward in these three steps:

1) Make sure that the team dealing with the crisis is as small as possible and agrees in a structured way on the next steps on a regular basis and according to an on-going schedule – crises do not go away immediately;

2) Make sure that all team members have their own designated tasks and that they complete and finish each task, evidentially;

3) Make sure that communication to and amongst stakeholders is prompt and open, avoiding arrogance and no-comment situations, if possible.

Who is someone that has had a great impact on your career success?

Water Rights Court Judge Mrs. Aino Turpeinen, who taught me an incredible number of things on Environmental Law and Sustainability, plus the importance of being decisive, independently. This was in the early 1990’s, mind!

What do you think sets you apart from other in-house counsel?

I have absolutely no fear, even in the face of adversity, and I believe strongly in privacy and client confidentiality.

What do you think are the most important attributes for a modern in-house counsel to possess?

Level-headed and all-round thinking, the ability to consult others and a strong belief in the Rule of Law.