That Nordic Feeling – Nordic Secondment Week 2023
Close collaboration between our Nordic offices is one of the core things in our business, and sharing the same vision collectively drives our success. The Nordic Secondment program is a unique opportunity for our employees to get to know their colleagues, another office culture, and local practice groups in Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark.
Secondments are offered once a year in September, allowing employees from all business units to visit another Nordic office and work with their Nordic colleagues for a week. Each office hosts three secondees from different locations.
This year's Nordic Secondment Week took place on 19-22 September, and 19 employees traveled across the Nordics to gain new insights and experiences in our other office locations.
Meet the secondees
Here, you can read about what this year's secondees experienced during the week.
Anja Hegerberg, an Associate from Norway, spent the secondment week in Helsinki.
"Moi!
The secondment in Helsinki was everything I expected and so much more. We kicked off the week with a joint breakfast with the buddies at the hotel and strolled over to the office in beautiful, sunny fall weather. The new offices were modern, warm, and welcoming, with an amazing view of Helsinki and the waterfront from the rooftop terrasse. We had two dinners and went bowling with our buddies and other colleagues from the Helsinki office. We also participated in the collaborative lunch at the office (a joint lunch at the office instead of people going out to eat in smaller groups). The activities allowed us to get to know each other better outside of work, and we had a great time. Everyone was very welcoming and engaged, leading to good conversations and laughs.
After the secondment, I was left with new friends from the Helsinki, Stockholm, and Copenhagen offices. What I think is especially great with the Nordic Secondment is that we frequently work with colleagues from these offices and more often visit these countries, and we get to talk or see each other again soon.
I would do it again!"
Layal Sarhan, Assistant Attorney from Denmark, visited her Swedish colleagues in Stockholm.
"To me, embodying the values of DLA Piper means embracing the multifaceted role of a global lawyer. The Nordic Secondment Week has been an enriching opportunity that gave me profound insights into what it truly means to be an international lawyer.
Immersed in the vibrant city of Stockholm, working alongside my Swedish colleagues, I found myself in a unique position to tap into the collective wisdom of my colleagues and hear about their experiences. It also exposed me to the differences and similarities that characterize our shared Nordic identity.
What truly sets this experience apart, however, is the profound sense of camaraderie that blossomed throughout the Secondment week. The opportunity to spend time and create memories with familiar faces and new acquaintances has been a privilege I hold dear.
In retrospect, the Nordic Secondment week has left an indelible impression on me. It has instilled a lasting global connectedness, bridging the geographical distance between our colleagues across the Nordic offices and reaffirming our collective strength as international lawyers."
Suvi Tykkyläinen, a Legal Assistant from Finland, spent the week at the office in Oslo.
"I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the Oslo office. Collaborating with my local colleagues and brainstorming together proved productive and enjoyable. Through this experience, I gained valuable insights into their daily practices and had the opportunity to exchange ideas, which I believe will mutually benefit both of our teams.
The cultural exchange and exposure to different work methodologies also added a unique dimension to my professional growth. Sharing memorable dinners with the hosts and fellow secondees broadened our professional horizons and forged lasting bonds with our international peers. Overall, it was a well-rounded and enriching experience that left a lasting impact on my personal and professional development.
Meeting colleagues from the Aarhus office and learning about their work habits, the office, their hometown, and the culture was wonderful. The week was also professionally instructive as I had the opportunity to observe bankruptcy proceedings in court and discuss the differences in bankruptcy proceedings between Finland and Denmark with colleagues. It's fantastic to have people I now know and can easily reach out to, both for work and during my free time. It was a great experience, and I highly recommend it!"
Robin Heimdahl from Sweden went to Helsinki.
"I had the opportunity to attend the agency's Nordic Secondment Week and spent a week in Helsinki. The week turned out to exceed all expectations!
The Finnish colleagues were very friendly and curious about us visitors, and they had arranged a great program for us during the week with a nice hotel and social activities. Helsinki surprised me - the city is surrounded by water and has many cool and hip restaurants and amazing architecture. The weather was also fantastic! The week was rewarding, and I recommend participating in our Nordic Secondment!"
Oda Uggen, an Associate from Norway, spent a week in the Swedish office in Stockholm.
"High expectations were exceeded during our Nordic Secondment week in Stockholm! The program for the week promised a tight schedule of lunches, dinners, and social events, and we truly did have a week filled with excellent food, awesome company from our Nordic colleagues, and great memories to bring back home to Oslo (including talk show games in Gamla Stan and the infamous "bitis party").
Among the highlights for me was spending time with colleagues from the Swedish competition and public procurement team and the team working on regulatory matters and getting to know more colleagues from across the Swedish office. It was great to experience how the collaborative and supportive vibe that makes working at DLA Piper a pleasure is also present at the Stockholm office. I look forward to meeting and working with these colleagues in the future. "
Amalie Thønning Funch, HR assistant from Denmark went to Oslo.
"I've gained new valuable insight and created lasting bonds across borders with both my peers and other Nordic colleagues. I feel more inspired in my work life and also feel like I'm part of something much bigger than DLA Piper in my home country. That Nordic feeling I experienced during the Nordic onboarding event earlier this year was brought back in an everyday context which is very unique."
Antti Pietinen, a Senior Associate from Finland, joined his Swedish colleagues in Stockholm.
Secondment was a great way to get to know my Swedish tax colleagues better, and I believe it will lower the threshold for communication in the future. The week offered many fun activities and socialising with fellow secondees and locals. The Secondment hosts took excellent care of secondees, and it was great to see how easy it was to quickly adapt to working in a foreign office. The highlight of the week was taking part in the Bitisfest (associate party) on the last evening, which was the perfect end to a great week.
Read all the secondee experiences from our Nordic Career site here.
Overall, Nordic cooperation is widely shared and valued, and creating new friendships internationally is considered a unique opportunity at DLA Piper across borders.
#strongertogether
