Career Stories | Ella Mäkijärvi, Senior Associate, Dispute Resolution

Could you tell us about your Hannes Snellman journey?

This journey has lasted already almost nine years and included five different roles! It all started as an associate trainee and thesis trainee in the M&A Team and continued in the position of an associate in the same team. After a couple of years doing M&A, I took a one-year leave of absence to train on the bench. Upon my return to Hannes Snellman, I switched to the Dispute Resolution Team, where I currently work as a senior associate.

What kind of matters do you handle?

Basically anything related to commercial dispute resolution can come to my table. Recently, I have spent a significant amount of my working time on international arbitration assignments. In addition, I often advise clients on Finnish court litigation cases. My recent court litigation assignments have also included e.g. court mediation and injunctions.

How would you describe your normal workday?

The assignments in our team typically relate to complex arbitration or litigation proceedings, where the written phase usually takes many months or even years. Therefore, a significant amount of my workday consists of drafting  submissions and other documents related to the proceedings, preparing different memoranda and analysis to the clients, and legal and factual investigations related to the cases. In addition, we have meetings or video calls with the clients and also internally with the HS team handling each assignment. The highlights of the work are naturally the hearing days.

You have also trained on the bench at the District Court of Helsinki. How was the experience there?

During the year, I chaired court hearings, adjudicated cases in criminal and civil law, and handled petitionary and bankruptcy matters. The experience taught me independent decision-making and broadened my all-round legal knowledge. What is the most useful in my current work as an advocate is that I gained understanding of how the Finnish courts work in practice, so it is easier to adapt when working as an advocate in court cases. Above all, after the court training it is easier for me to understand the point of view of the decision-maker (judge or arbitrator) and focus on the essential when acting as counsel.

You took part in the ELSA Finland’s Moot Court Competition when you were a student and the Young Lawyers Contest organised by the Academy of European Law (ERA) and the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE) after graduation. Can you tell us about these experiences, and how they have influenced your career? 

ELSA Finland’s National Moot Court Competition concerned a Finnish court litigation in a liability for damages case of a limited liability company. This experience sparked my interest in dispute resolution—and in fact—Hannes Snellman, as we had two Hannes Snellman lawyers as the coaches of our team. During the competition, I found out how much I enjoyed the written and oral pleading and using legal argumentation to the benefit of a client (in this case, an imaginative one). The coolest thing was that my team got to compete until the very final round of the competition, which was held at the Supreme Court of Finland.

After this Finnish competition, I wanted to have a similar experience on an international level to learn to know legal professionals from abroad. Therefore, quite soon after my graduation, I decided to participate in the Young Lawyers Contest, which was a Europe-wide competition. The best thing about the contest was that the teams consisted of members from different countries. Therefore, I got to work together with a French and a Romanian lawyer. Through this competition, I learned the power of a diverse team. We all had different backgrounds, different ways of working, and different strengths, which we were able to use to our benefit, and eventually we won the competition. 

This year’s Vis Moot and Vis East Moot are around the corner. Based on your moot court experiences, what greetings would you give to the students who are participating in these or other moot court competitions?

You are the best experts of the case. Be proud of the hard work your team has done and plead convincingly. Trust and rely on your team members during difficult moments—together you are the strongest. Give it your all and do not be afraid of making mistakes because in this setting making mistakes is safe and usually teaches you the most.

Most importantly, enjoy. There is nothing better than pleading a case you have worked hard on and know by heart.

My one piece of advice would be taking some fresh air and listening to your favourite songs before the oral pleading (in addition to a good cup of coffee)—this usually brings you to the right mood even if your time to shine is later during the day.

Hannes Snellman is cooperating with Päätös, a podcast focused on decision-making. Inspired by the podcast, we would like to conclude this interview by asking you about decision-making—what would you say is the most significant decision you have made when it comes to your professional life?

This is an interesting and challenging question. There have been many essential turning points in my career—including the moot court competitions and having applied for a traineeship at Hannes Snellman. If I must choose one, it is that I decided to take the opportunity to train on the bench, because after the court traineeship, I was offered the possibility to switch to the Dispute Resolution Team at Hannes Snellman. I am extremely happy that I decided to return to Hannes Snellman as I really enjoy my current work together with the great team full of amazing individuals from whom I get to learn every day to become a better dispute resolution lawyer.