Bird & Bird appoints Mårten Willamo as partner and Head of Nordic Corporate Group

A major player in the Nordic legal scene, Mårten joins from Roschier in Stockholm, where he was a corporate M&A partner. He has more than 20 years' experience in the industry, with particular expertise in private equity as well as strong venture capital experience. He is one of the few lawyers in Stockholm acting in both the Swedish and Finnish markets. He is also one of the few lawyers practising in this area with a full command of the three major Nordic languages - Swedish, Danish and Finnish.

Bird & Bird holds the unique position of being the first integrated international law firm with pan Nordic offices across Sweden, Finland and Denmark. Mårten's background as a Finnish-Swedish lawyer, with experience gained working in both Denmark and the Baltics, will be an excellent fit with both Bird & Bird's Nordic and international corporate teams.

Jori Taipale, Head of Nordic Region at Bird & Bird comments: "In Mårten, we get an excellent new Head for our Nordic Corporate Group. Mårten's extensive and versatile experience gained from working in three different Nordic countries and on cross-border M&A and Private Equity transactions is unique and a perfect match with Bird & Bird's already strong Nordic offering and ambition. Mårten's recruitment is an important step in pursuing our vision to be the number one law firm in the Nordic Region for organisations being changed by Technology or the Digital World."

Hans Svensson, Managing Partner, Bird & Bird Sweden says: "We are very excited to welcome Mårten as part of our strategy to build a pan-Nordic powerhouse advising technology-driven clients across our core sectors. We are keen to expand our highly regarded Nordic team, which increasingly works both with Nordics-based businesses and those whose strategies include acquisitions, divestments or investments in the region. Mårten's stellar reputation across the different markets will further boost the firm's abilities in the region and we look forward to working alongside him."

Mårten adds: "Bird & Bird's ambitious and distinctive Nordic vision made the firm the obvious choice for the next stage in my career. I was also attracted to the firm's innovative and refreshing approach, which in itself reflects the reputation the Nordic region has for championing innovation in technology and beyond. The firm established a sector-based focus long before other international law firms, and I look forward to developing my practice along these lines. Bird & Bird's lawyers are genuinely passionate about their sectors and industries, and I look forward to working with both my new Nordic and international colleagues."

This latest hire follows the recent appointment of well-known media and entertainment partner Peer Petersen from Bech-Bruun to further develop the Danish and Nordic IP teams from Bird & Bird's Copenhagen office.

Mårten brings with him Senior Associate Johanna Wärnberg, who also joins from Roschier.