Greetings from Alumni: Lauri Putkonen, Traficom — Competition Law from Both Sides of the Table

In this Greetings from Alumni interview, we meet up with Lauri Putkonen, who works as a lawyer at Traficom and who previously worked as a senior associate in Hannes Snellman’s Competition & Regulatory Team.

Hi Lauri, how are you? And what does autumn 2025 look like for you?

Hi, thanks for asking, I am doing great! After a relaxing (albeit hectic) summer holiday season, it was nice to get back to work with the ongoing projects. Autumn 2025 seems to be rather busy, but fortunately there should still be time for family, sports, and relaxation. For me, the highlight of early autumn was definitely Eurobasket 2025 in Tampere and Riga. Unfortunately, I could not travel to Riga, but I followed the games closely through television. I also ran my first marathon at the end of the summer, and it was a great experience. I am currently planning to sign up for next year’s marathon event(s).

You work as a lawyer at Traficom. What does your work entail, and how did you end up working at Traficom?

I joined Traficom in August 2023 – they were looking for a lawyer who is specialised and experienced in competition law.

I work as a lawyer in the telecommunications unit, which is a part of Traficom’s Digital Connections sector. Among other things, my work duties include larger projects related to regulation concerning significant market power (SMP), as well as all types of assignments and cases related to the application of telecommunication regulation. By regulating significant market power, we aim at promoting competition and reducing entry barriers. In practice, we collect and review information, conduct market analyses, and impose obligations on SMP companies if needed. Further, we follow the market developments in the regulated markets and resolve potential conflicts between telecommunication operators. In addition, one of the special features of my work at Traficom is that we do a lot of international cooperation with the European Commission, regulatory authorities of other EU countries, and BEREC (the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications), for instance with regard to the application and reform of the telecommunication legislation. 

You used to work in Hannes Snellman’s Competition & Regulatory Team. How is your current work different from your work at HS?

Many of my current tasks are (at least indirectly) related to competition law. For example, the regulation concerning significant market power is based on principles that are familiar from competition law. Consequently, my tasks are somewhat similar to those at Hannes Snellman’s Competition & Regulatory Team, but now I work on the other side of the table.

What is your favourite memory from your time at Hannes Snellman?

The best memory is definitely about people and doing things together. We had a really great team spirit, and I got to know many amazing personalities and talented co-workers. 

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?

During my career, I have both worked and studied abroad. Sometimes it feels like right now is not the perfect time to seize the opportunity, but if you think too critically, there will never be a good time. It is always worth grabbing opportunities when they arise. For example, if you have the opportunity to work abroad for a fixed period of time, you should not think twice.