Roschier Investigations Forum 2025 – Navigating compliance in transforming times 

Insights|November 21, 2025

The annual Roschier Investigations Forum took place at the Grand Hansa in Helsinki, bringing together 120 compliance professionals to discuss the evolving landscape of investigations and compliance. In a year described as difficult and stressful, with rapid shifts in enforcement priorities and regulatory approaches, the event offered a timely platform for exploring how organizations can build resilience and maintain ethical standards in uncertain times. 

The forum opened with a keynote address from Alexis Mendoza (Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, Nokia), who addressed the challenging and dynamic 2025 enforcement environment. The keynote highlighted culture – how the greatest achievement for any organization is having people internalize ethical standards rather than simply completing mandatory trainings. In an environment where regulatory approaches are shifting, multinational companies must navigate less-than-clear circumstances while maintaining their commitment to compliance. 

The Ethics Equation: Probing suspected corruption and bribery in transforming times  

The first panel brought together compliance leaders from across industries: Gisela Knuts (Independent Arbitrator), Joanne Morgan (Vice President and Group Head of Compliance, Sandvik), Brad Mitchell (Director of Global Ethics & Compliance, Kone), and Harri Spolander (Vice President of Governance, Compliance & Ethics, Kesko), with Mikko Manner (Partner, Roschier) moderating. 

The discussion reflected an exhausting year, with inconsistent enforcement making it harder to identify an effective risk-based approach. While some jurisdictions have become less aggressive in enforcement, other jurisdictions or sectors have shown marked increases in risk awareness, creating an uneven global landscape. 

A key theme emerged around the relativity of ethical standards. Global codes of conduct are not understood uniformly across different parts of the world, with varying perspectives on what constitutes acceptable behavior. This makes it essential for companies to define clear standards and create a strong ethical tone that transcends local variations. One of the most dangerous mindsets in organizations is “this is how we have always done it”, as the world is constantly changing. 

The panel emphasized that compliance is not merely a stamp but requires ownership and a mandate from the leadership and other key stakeholders. When management focuses solely on short-term financial results, it can create a culture where the ends justify the means. Short-term incentives drive short-term behaviors. Tone from the top must be reality, not just a catchphrase, and strong ethics cultures require long-term development – corporate culture cannot be changed overnight. 

Key elements of a successful investigation 

Andreas Hallbeck (Senior Associate, Roschier) interviewed Lars Sjöbring (General Counsel, SSAB), who reflected on his experience managing various high-profile investigations. He emphasized the need to deliver credibility and noted that external advisors can play an important role in creating or strengthening that credibility. A useful investigation requires clarity on purpose and stakeholders, an understanding of the context, and a recognition that the goal is to establish the facts needed for decision-making – not to conduct a police investigation. Going into a crisis, it may be difficult to focus the investigation, but the simple and somewhat blunt truth is that where there is some ‘crap,’ there is usually more ‘crap’ that needs to be uncovered. A proper paper trail is crucial and helps the investigator determine when it is defensible to wrap up the investigation. 

Drawing on crisis management experience, the discussion emphasized the importance of having plans in place upfront. Another key insight shared was that when investigating critical issues with product quality, it is important not to have the product owners investigate those issues, as human nature often drives people to conceal or justify problems. 

Under the microscope: Investigations and crisis management in the eye of the storm 

The final panel explored managing people and public discussion during crises. Panelists included Micaela Thorström (EVP Legal and General Counsel, Stora Enso), Pauliina Saares (Senior Advisor and Founding Partner, Aina Advisors), Jani Salovaara (Director of Legal, Markets and Compliance, Wolt), and Christian Ståhlberg (Senior Vice President, Legal & Compliance and General Counsel, Neste), with Ami Paanajärvi (Partner, Roschier) moderating. 

The most important first steps in a crisis include establishing what has happened, assembling the right core crisis team while isolating the handling of the matter, bringing in appropriate advisors, and determining communications – who needs to know what and how quickly. Culture plays a crucial role in crisis management. Organizations benefit from cultures of openness and trust where people are not afraid of blame. Every crisis represents an opportunity and learning moment, making “post-mortems” essential. 

External communications consultants bring valuable perspective because they have seen patterns across multiple crises and can predict next steps, while their outsider view allows them to raise uncomfortable questions without being constrained by organizational power structures. When negative press coverage continues for extended periods, internal communications become crucial, as employees face the consequences daily. 

The Roschier Investigations Forum will reconvene in Stockholm in November 2026. 

(Photos: Peter Seenan)