Risto Sipilä

As a senior counsel in our International Dispute Resolution group in Helsinki, I have a wealth of experience advising on dispute resolution matters as well as on construction and real estate law issues.

Advising our clients on dispute resolution in various fields of law and across all business sectors, I specialise in matters, disputes and pre-dispute management. I also act on behalf of our clients in energy & utilities, and as an arbitrator.

My main area of expertise is construction and real estate law. I typically represent construction parties and related projects in arbitration and litigation proceedings. I have also represented clients in court proceedings on other areas of business law, such as delivery agreements and assets deals.

Before joining Bird & Bird, I worked for another major law firm in Finland, in addition to working for a law firm in the United States.

Over the years, I have acted as the President of the Finnish Bar Association (2013-2016) and was previously the Vice President and board member of the Finnish Bar Association, President of the Helsinki Bar Association and a board member of the Association of Finnish Lawyers. I have also represented the Finnish Bar Association in the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe and in the International Bar Association. I have also been a member of the Finnish Judicial Training Board. I currently serve as a member of the Finnish Judicial Appointments Board.

I am a frequent lecturer on construction and real estate law and am fluent in Finnish and English.