Partner, Attorney-at-law and Co-Head of Finnish Corporate group, Mikko Ahonen, has been appointed as the new Managing Partner of international law firm Bird & Bird's office in Helsinki as from 15th June 2020. The appointment was made by Bird & Bird's CEO David Kerr.
Bird & Bird's office in Helsinki has been led by Managing Partner Jaakko Hietala since 2016.
Bird & Bird Head of Nordic Region, Partner Jori Taipale notes that Jaakko's role has been crucial in the past years.
"Jaakko has decided to focus on leading our Real Estate and Infrastructure Practice in Finland and the Nordics. On behalf of our whole team, I would like to express our deepest gratitude."
Jori is pleased by the appointment of Mikko Ahonen as the new Managing Partner. Mikko Ahonen will also join the Nordic Management Group to lead the development and integration of Bird & Bird's operations in the Nordic Region together with Taipale and the Heads of Country of Bird & Bird's offices in Sweden and Denmark.
"As an international law firm with a focus on helping organisations being changed by technology and the digital world, we are very well-placed to answer to future challenges posed by e.g. digitalisation and technological disruption. As an internationally recognized lawyer, I find Mikko a natural choice to lead our Helsinki office towards these challenges."
39-year old Mikko is specialised in mergers & acquisitions, corporate and securities legal work and real estate transactions. He has broad expertise in numerous significant transactions, both cross-border and national. Mikko graduated from the University of Helsinki as a Master of Laws in 2007 and has been working at Bird & Bird since 2010. In addition, Mikko has a post-graduate degree from King's College London in 2012 (LL.M.) and became a Partner at Bird & Bird in May 2017.
Managing Partner Jaakko Hietala is pleased to pass the role of the Head of Country to Mikko. "It has been a wonderful journey to lead the Helsinki office for the past years. The legal market is going through numerous changes at the moment and I find that Mikko is more than well-equipped to lead this team to meet those changes for the benefit of our clients."
Mikko Ahonen takes up his new role as Head of Country feeling honoured and humbled.
"I'm grateful for the support of our Partners and I thank Jaakko for his exemplary leadership. I am looking forward to continue building the future of Bird & Bird together with our team in Helsinki as well as in our other offices around the world. Together we will continue helping our clients to harness the opportunities of change by offering hands-on legal service with a vision."
Bird & Bird is an international law firm with 29 offices in 20 countries.
Inquiries & further information:
Jori Taipale
Partner, Head of Nordic Region
Bird & Bird LLP
tel. +358 40 524 6930
Jaakko Hietala
Managing Partner (until June 15 2020)
Bird & Bird Attorneys Ltd
tel. +358 50 500 4759
Mikko Ahonen
Managing Partner (from June 15 2020)
Bird & Bird Attorneys Ltd
tel. +358 40 506 2255
