Career Stories | Agda Vähä-Piikkiö, Senior Associate, M&A

What has your career at Hannes Snellman been like?

I first joined Hannes in January 2017 as an associate trainee in the M&A Team. I was a fifth-year law student and did not really know much (if anything at all) about M&A or what it was like to work in a law firm. However, I enjoyed my time here so I ended up re-joining Hannes to write my master’s thesis after a short adventure abroad. Thereafter, upon my graduation in 2018, I continued as an associate in the same M&A Team where I had first started my career a year earlier. This time, I had some idea what M&A was about but ever since, it has been a proper deep dive into the world of M&A. During my time as an associate, I have mostly worked with industrial M&A in various types of transactions both cross-border and in Finland, and I have also had a chance to get familiar with questions related to the monitoring of foreign corporate acquisitions. Apart from pure M&A projects, I have also gained knowledge on advising clients in general corporate law. Having worked in our team for slightly more than four years as an associate, the most recent step in my career was a promotion to the position of a senior associate this October — it is crazy how fast time flies when you are having fun!

What do you like the most about working in the M&A Team?

I like how versatile M&A work is. It offers a great vantage point to get familiar with different businesses and see how different industries work. When working in M&A, one also gets to continuously be in touch with other people, whether clients, counterparties, or other advisors participating in the project and whether in Finland or abroad — bringing a nice hint of internationality to it as well. In the M&A Team, one also gets to see the whole life cycle of a transaction project. The perks combined; you rarely have a dull day at work. Thus, it is always exciting to get up in the morning and to head to work. Also, it often is the case that you end up spending the day doing something totally different from what you had planned in the morning. In addition, M&A projects are largely a team effort, with team spirit at the core of it, which is something our team is definitely not lacking.

Can you describe the Hannes Snellman culture?

I feel we are a bunch of passionate people working together as individuals but aiming towards a common goal, i.e. the best possible result in whatever we are doing.

What is the best advice you have received when it comes to your career?

I do not think that any particular advice sticks out, but what has stayed in my mind in general is the idea that you must stay open-minded and keep trying new stuff while also working with different people — regardless of whether they are more senior or junior than you, you will always learn something from working with different people. At times, it can also be a good idea to just take a deep breath.

One theme that currently stands out in working life discussions is purpose. To conclude this interview, what are the things that keep you going and motivated in work — what is your purpose?

What motivates me is having continuous opportunities to challenge myself while also seeing that my input as a member of the team matters regardless of whether I am working as a part of the core team in a project or just jumping in to cover a colleague.

FAVOURITE | Way of Commuting – Walking Book – Hard one… some good classic Lunch – A salad with a lot of fillings Podcast – Lately I have been into random art history podcasts Work Equipment – Laptop… not sure one can be very imaginative with this one Afternoon Routine – As dull as it sounds but getting up to get coffee Mobile Application – Google Maps Relaxation Method – Jogging and reading Work Outfit – Just something comfortable Power Song – A personal secret I am not ready to share Website – boredpanda.com Social Media Channel – Instagram (mainly for stalking others) Drink – Coffee or sparkling water Weekday – Thursday Leisure Activity – All kinds of hobbies… currently riding and fencing (not at the same time though)

Want to know more about working at Hannes Snellman? Please pay a visit to our Careers section.