Anu Waaralinna
Anu Waaralinna is a Helsinki-based Partner and Head of the firm’s Employment practice. She is a highly recognized expert in employment law.
Anu has extensive experience in demanding employment-related assignments, and she regularly advises domestic and international companies and employers on a broad range of employment issues of strategic importance. Her practice covers, in particular, boardroom advice, company restructurings and co-operation procedures as well as service and executive employment contract issues. A significant portion of her work is dedicated to the resolution of employment disputes.
Anu is a frequent lecturer on topics on employment law, and she has also authored books and articles on the subject.
Anu is ranked as a Star Individual by Chambers Europe within Employment. She has also been awarded with the Best Lawyers – Lawyer of the Year award for Labor and Employment Law in Finland several times. She is recognized as one of the leading experts in the country within labor, employment and benefits also by other international legal directories such as The Legal 500 and Who’s Who Legal. In addition, Who’s Who Legal ranks Anu as a Thought Leader (Global Elite) in Employment & Benefits (2022).
According to clients Anu is “undoubtedly the best labour law expert in Finland” (The Legal 500, 2023), a “trusted adviser who is always there to help and finds practical and business-minded solutions to challenging situations” (Chambers Europe, 2023). She is “a go-to name in the Finnish market thanks to her versatility and superb understanding of employment benefits matters” (Who’s Who Legal, 2022).
Anu receives praise from clients for her “great customer-service attitude” enthusing that she “understands businesses and people, and is an excellent negotiator” (Chambers Europe, 2018). Clients also appreciate that she is “full of energy, ideas and easy to communicate with” as well as that “she really looks at the big picture and finds new ways of approaching matters, and she’s great in court hearings and processes.” (Chambers Europe, 2020). Clients also point out that “Anu Waaralinna has been our trusted advisor for years. She is already part of my core team.” (The Legal 500, 2020). One client comments: “Anu is a highly professional employment lawyer who succeeds in delivering high quality services and solutions year after year, and the quality of her work is always excellent” (The Legal 500, 2022). Another one adds: “Anu is the top in her game, to my mind. She is easy to talk with and always provides professional, hands-on advice. She gets back to me quickly no matter where she is, letting me know when we can discuss further. We have worked together for years and it is always a pleasure” (Chambers Europe, 2023).
Roschier (2017-)
Castrén & Snellman (2002-2017), Partner (2012-2017)
Law Office Attorney’s House ANPR, lawyer (2001-2002)
Rautaruukki Oyj, lawyer (Group Environmental Protection) (1998-2001)
Member of the Finnish Bar Association
Member of the IBA
Member of the European Employment Lawyers Association (EELA)
Member of the Finnish Association for Human Resource Management
Member of the Association of Finnish Lawyers
Member of the Labour Law Association
“Kun joudut irtisanomaan” (“When you have to lay off”), with S. Kurtén, 2nd revised edition, Alma Talent, 2015
University of Lapland, LL.M. (1997)
English, Finnish, Swedish
Anu is a trusted adviser who is always there to help and finds practical and business-minded solutions to challenging situations.
Chambers Europe