Building a Better Law Firm
Partner and attorney Anna Kuusniemi-Laine has worked at Castrén & Snellman since the early 1990s and has seen the firm grow and develop into one of Finland’s largest law firms. Anna started work at C&S as a trainee while she was still at law school. She enjoyed working at the firm and decided to stay on after graduating, becoming the firm’s twenty-second lawyer. According to Anna, Castrén & Snellman is a very different firm today than it was in the early 90s. What is it that has kept her in the same firm for over fifteen years?
'I’ve been able to develop and grow at the firm. Also, my job offers a wide variety assignments, pleasant and skilled people to work with, professional management, and a relaxed atmosphere. I’ve also been able to combine my work here and the rest of my life in a way that suits me', Anna says.
Anna is specialised in competition law, public procurement, and state aid issues.
'It was a real windfall for our firm when Hannu Pokela, a real competition law guru, joined the firm. I didn’t have to go elsewhere to learn from the master, because the master came to me. Working with Hannu and Sari Hiltunen over the years has been very rewarding and educational.'
Anna was made a partner in 2007. Her new position has brought with it more responsibility for supervising younger lawyers and providing them with work. Becoming a partner also offered wider opportunities to develop the firm and the work of her expertise group. At the same time, reconciling different roles brings challenges of its own.
'Fitting together the roles of an expert and a supervisor is a challenge, as is time management. Keeping up my own expertise also requires continuing effort.'
Associate Anders Forss | Trainee Antti Huotilainen | Partner Anna Kuusniemi-Laine | CRM-Assistant Niina Romppainen