Finland 2025
Supported by the Association of Corporate Counsel
General counsel and secretary to the board of directors | F-Secure
Executive vice president legal affairs and member of corporate management team | SOK
Executive vice president legal and compliance, and group general counsel | Assemblin Caverion Group
Executive vice president legal and general counsel | Stora Enso
Executive vice president corporate affairs and legal, group general counsel, member of the global executive team | Huhtamaki
Group general counsel and senior vice president enterprise risk management and ESG | Goodpack
Senior vice president legal and sustainability and general counsel | Aspo
Senior vice president general counsel and chief compliance officer | Luvata
Senior vice president and group general counsel | Valmet Automotive
Executive vice president, corporate relations and legal affairs | Wärtsilä
Chief legal officer, legal affairs and corporate responsibility | Raisio
Execuive vice president legal and compliance | Karl Fazer
General counsel and senior vice president human resources | Hiab
Executive vice president, general counsel, secretary of the board and head of sustainability | Rapala VMC
Congratulations to everyone featured on our first ever standalone GC Powerlist Finland, which is long overdue. Previously, our coverage of this major European economy was limited to an edition covering legal teams in the Nordic region all the way back in 2016, when the world was very different, so we are close to a decade without our highlighting the Finnish GC community – happily, we are rectifying that with this publication!
Thank you to everyone who interviewed with us for this project, as these interactions allow us to showcase insights from the world’s top GCs to a wide audience, and hopefully contribute to the knowledge base of the profession as a whole. I have picked some highlights to share from our research below.
Through our GC Powerlist initiative, we hope to build bridges between general counsel so that they can learn from each other and help in their career development, which we know can be indispensable to individuals’ professional growth. Elina Kaura, executive vice president for legal and compliance and group general counsel of Assemblin Caverion Group, gives a great example of this:
“Jutta Karlsson, currently the Group General Counsel for Amer Corporation, was my boss at Pöyry PLC from 2016 to 2019. Her trust and belief in me allowed me to shine and gave me the confidence to trust myself. I learned a great deal from her professionally, but even more importantly, I discovered that authenticity and joy in work and life in general are the key ingredients to reaching the next level when in the right environment to thrive. This principle guides me today in how I conduct myself and how I treat others.”
Chief legal officer of Nokia Esa Niinimäki spoke about some of the unique insights and career that becoming a GC can provide
‘One of the best parts of being a general counsel is the “general”: being exposed to so many areas of law with the different talented individuals in one’s own organisation. For me the most frequent activities include legal work relating to strategic growth areas of our business, M&A, commercial deals, IPR, litigation, regulatory tsunami, board work, ESG/sustainability, AI, people and culture. Another aspect where I derive a huge amount of satisfaction is how Chief Legal Officer is positioned in our company as a key contributor to strategic discussions: a big part of my work as a Group Leadership Team member does not relate to legal and compliance at all but is rather about acting as a strategic partner to the business, CEO and Board relating to their key considerations.’
Taru Uotila, Senior vice president, legal and sustainability, and general counsel of Aspo, spoke eloquently of the importance of a general counsel in managing risk during less-than-ideal business conditions:
‘We have witnessed an unprecedented number of significant crises during the past years – pandemic, Russian war in Ukraine, geopolitical tensions, climate crisis, and huge challenges in the global food chain. As the general counsel and member of our global executive team, I have been navigating through these crises and the VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity) environment together with my team by partnering with the businesses to manage the impacts of uncertainty and disruption, participating in the executive management’s decision-making in the process. It is important that a general counsel represents stability, analytical support and active participation in alignment of the most strategically important topics. Creating a safe environment for the senior leadership, enabling them to focus on the right things, is the most important value-add a general counsel can provide.’
And, summing up, Andreas Elving, chief legal officer and general counsel of Ahlstrom gave a succinct appraisal of the benefits of an experienced GC for a company:
‘In-house lawyers have one of the best vantage points in a company to be silo-breakers. In our day-to-day jobs, we are exposed to a number of different internal and external topics across the spectrum of commercial, regulatory, financial and other angles, and we are therefore uniquely positioned to connect dots. Using that position to provide outside-in perspectives to our business colleagues can foster interesting discussions and creative solutions in partnership with our stakeholders.’
But most importantly, congratulations to all featured in our first-ever standalone Finland GC Powerlist edition. We hope this is the start of a series of publications celebrating the best and brightest in the Finnish in-house legal community, as we know that the hard work of GCs is often not celebrated as much as it should be.
GC Summit Colombia 2026 brought together senior in-house counsel, private practice lawyers and legal industry professionals for an afternoon of discussion focused on the regulatory, commercial and practical challenges shaping the legal landscape across Latin America. Beginning with registration and a light lunch, the programme set a collaborative tone, allowing attendees to connect ahead of a series of substantive panel sessions.
Following opening remarks, the first panel, sponsored by Holland & Knight, examined antitrust compliance in Colombia and its growing importance for companies operating in an increasingly scrutinised and fast-moving environment. The discussion highlighted how competition law has evolved into a strategic business concern rather than a purely legal one. Panellists shared in-house perspectives on designing and updating effective compliance programmes, managing competition risks in dynamic markets, and responding to investigations and information requests from authorities. Particular attention was given to aligning legal strategy with business objectives and to the expanding role of technology, including artificial intelligence, in supporting compliance, risk management and decision-making. Drawing on practical experience, the session offered grounded insights into emerging trends and best practices for navigating antitrust compliance today.
The second panel, sponsored by Posse Herrera Ruiz, shifted the focus to labour and employment law and how organisations can prepare for 2026 without burnout. Against a backdrop of economic uncertainty, regulatory change and shifting workforce expectations, speakers explored how employers can balance legal risk with operational resilience. The discussion covered workforce restructuring, labour costs, flexibility, union relations and the increasing relevance of wellbeing and ESG considerations. Rather than abstract forecasts, the panel concentrated on realistic strategies to anticipate disruption, respond to change and make informed decisions, providing attendees with a pragmatic framework for facing the coming years with clarity and confidence.
After a short coffee break, attention turned to regional investment trends with a session sponsored by Pellerano & Herrera on the Dominican Republic. The discussion examined the regulatory developments, sector-specific opportunities, and legal considerations influencing both foreign and domestic investment. Speakers reflected on recent reforms and market dynamics, as well as the practical challenges faced by companies operating in or entering the jurisdiction. The panel offered a forward-looking view on why the Dominican Republic continues to attract international interest and what businesses should be mindful of as the legal landscape evolves.
This was followed by a fireside chat sponsored by ECIJA GPA focusing on Ecuador’s energy sector. The conversation addressed the ongoing crisis and its implications for investors and businesses, providing insight into the current legal and regulatory framework and the key risks involved. Alongside these challenges, the session also explored emerging opportunities within the sector, offering a balanced perspective on how stakeholders can protect investments while identifying areas for potential growth in a difficult environment.
The Congress continued with a panel sponsored by Gamboa, García, Roldán & Co. on artificial intelligence in Colombia. The discussion explored the developing regulatory oversight of AI, including draft legislation in Congress and public policies introduced by the national government. Speakers examined the legal and practical risks associated with implementing AI tools, such as questions of liability, algorithmic transparency and accountability, as well as the broader implications for the future of legal practice. The session underscored the need for legal teams to stay engaged with technological change while maintaining robust governance frameworks.
The day concluded with an interactive session sponsored by Legal 500 on the day-to-day practice of an in-house lawyer. This final panel offered an honest look at the realities of working within a business, addressing both legal and non-legal challenges. Topics included the importance of soft skills, managing and developing talent, working with Gen Z, and the role of rising stars within legal teams. With questions encouraged throughout, the discussion resonated strongly with attendees, closing the event on a practical and reflective note that captured the evolving nature of the in-house role.
The event provided a comprehensive and regionally informed overview of the issues currently shaping legal practice, combining strategic insight with practical guidance across competition, labour, investment, energy, technology and in-house management.
It concluded with an excellent selection of canapés and drinks, enjoyed in a lively room filled with engaged and enthusiastic attendees.
