Career Stories: Sakari Salonen

Sakari is responsible for the firm’s intellectual property practice, which covers all kinds of IP rights, such as patents, trademarks, copyrights, copyrights of design and business secrets. The work includes litigation and dispute resolution as well as taking measures to protect rights, drafting protection strategies and providing general IP advice.

‘As you gain experience, you get more responsibility for assignments and have to be able to keep several balls in the air at once. My work involves a lot of project management, like delegation and coaching younger lawyers.’

Sakari’s workdays vary, and rarely go according to plan.

‘That’s the interesting thing. My workday never ends up the way I thought it would in the morning! Urgent assignments often pop up that need immediate attention.’

Before his career as a lawyer, Sakari worked as a jazz musician. He says that being an IP lawyer is a logical continuation to a career as a musician, because this field, if any, calls for creativity.

‘Creativity is one of the best parts of the job. The law never offers a straight answer, and you have to know the case law and how the law is applied. For example, it’s impossible to evaluate whether a company’s ad campaign is legal without knowing the law, the case law and having some creativity and courage.’

What Sakari especially likes about C&S is that the firm’s strategy works. It guides lawyers to use their limited time only for essential tasks. The best thing about working at C&S, however, is the good team spirit. The supportive work atmosphere can be seen in the results of the firm’s work.

‘The people here are great, which is the most important part of the enjoyment and quality of work. If the atmosphere at the office is bad, this can’t help but be reflected to the client, who won’t get as good service.’