Helsinki secondment story

My host firm, Roschier in Helsinki, is undeniably top-tier with offices in Sweden, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania (the latter three courtesy of the RR Alliance with Raidla Lejins & Norcous). The quality of work is high and my colleagues are excellent. The office is much smaller than Slaughter and May’s London office (there are about 100 lawyers in Helsinki) but in many ways the culture is very similar. I have been invited to some excellent parties, including a weekend-long Christmas party in Flims, Switzerland!

The deals in which I have been involved have had a very strong commercial edge and the Finnish legal landscape is highly sophisticated. Indeed, exploring the differences between English and Finnish law with my colleagues has been a definite highlight and getting to grips with the factors that have shaped (and continue to shape) Finnish law has been very rewarding.

Finland’s fascinating history is definitely an important factor in making my secondment thoroughly enjoyable. Helsinki is a fantastic city and a great platform from which to explore the rest of Scandinavia and the Baltic. So far I have been to Norway, Sweden and Estonia. I should also mention the Finnish winter - which is very cold - and the Finnish language - which is probably one of the hardest around!

• Matthew Gibson
• Trainee secondment