Languages

Finnish, English

A man in a navy suit and white shirt stands smiling against a purple background, with his left hand in his pocket.

Esa Airola

Counsel Employment

A man in a navy suit and white shirt stands smiling against a purple background, with his left hand in his pocket.

Languages

Finnish, English

Esa works in our Employment Team, assisting domestic and international clients on a full range of employment law matters. Esa has particular experience in managing employment disputes and representing clients in related legal proceedings, drawing on his experience with the Finnish court system. In addition to dispute resolution, he provides strategic advice on general employment law and a wide variety of assignments, including transactional aspects of employment law, redundancy procedures and reorganisations, employment and executive-level agreements, incentive and retention agreements, and internal investigations and termination of employment. Esa also has specific experience regarding business transfer and M&A-related employment matters.

Selected References

Parties:

Katri Antell, Sodexo

Transaction:

Hannes Snellman advised Katri Antell in the divestment of its restaurant business in Finland to Sodexo. In the transaction, the well-regarded Antell brand, along with its restaurants and their employees, transfers to Sodexo’s ownership.

Value:

Not public

Role:

Counsel to Katri Antell

Contacts

Memberships and Positions of Trust

  • Member of the Finnish Bar Association
  • Member of the Finnish Labour Law Association

Professional Background

  • Counsel, Hannes Snellman, 2026–
  • Bird & Bird Attorneys Ltd, 2018–2026
  • Occupational Safety and Health Authority, 2017–2018
  • Bird & Bird Attorneys Ltd, 2012–2017
  • Trained at the Bench, District Court of Kymenlaakso, 2014–2015
  • Union of Professional Engineers, 2012

Education

  • Master of Laws, University of Helsinki, 2011