What is your daily morning routine?
I am an early bird and wake up at 6am. I exercise every morning, enjoying a workout, a swim in the gym or I take my gravel bike for a ride.
Before arriving at the office between 8.30 and 9am, I stop for breakfast at a cafe and read the newspaper.
What is your Laurence Simons office like?
We have a lovely office at Frankfurt WeWork which is situated directly in the city centre. In 2019, Attila, the eagle mascot of my football team Eintracht Frankfurt, attended the German office opening.
I like the whole space, the reception, conference rooms and the community of different people and professions.
We also have a nice view into the courtyard to enjoy. Enzo and Lizzy, our two rescue dogs, like it too when they join me for a day at work.
How did you come to work at Laurence Simons?
Though I wasn’t unhappy in my last job, a headhunter called me in the Autumn of 2018 about the opportunity to re-launch the German practice for ‘an international agency specialized in search in Legal & Compliance after their MBO’.
I had some upfront calls and when I finally met Clare, our CEO and Angela, our CCO, in Frankfurt shortly before Christmas, it was a done deal!
What does your role encompass?
I am a trusted advisor for both candidates and clients and also run a branch office.
I have a long track record of placing Legal and Compliance specialists since 2004 and work primarily in-house, with a regional focus in Germany.
Since joining Laurence Simons, I have also worked in Luxembourg, Eastern Europe and for a client in the US.
I am part of the management board and manage our team on the ground; Alex, our experienced researcher, who is also my right hand, and Tim, our student who works in Business Support.
What projects are you currently working on?
I recently placed the Global Head of IP for a US-based Life Science company as well as their EMEA Legal Head, based in Munich.
I am now looking for an M&A specialist for a German corporate in Frankfurt and waiting for the signature of a Global Head of Legal Automotive for an International family-owned business.
Besides those in-house roles, I am advising two partners of law firms who wish to transfer their businesses onto a new platform.
Who do you work most closely with?
While I am working with my German research colleague Alex on national tickets, I enjoy the support of Sam, our Director of Research when it comes to international searches, very often with a link to the Life Science sector.
We just very successfully worked on the above-mentioned roles in the US and EMEA. On client pitches, I work with my peers Victoria and Charlie, our CCO Angela and other members of our Business Support in London.
I regularly join our monthly management board meetings on the ground in London, so I am in the fortunate position that I do have a chance to see most of the team in person and have a chat with a coffee or glass of wine.
What do you enjoy about your work?
That no day is like the other. I enjoy the fact I work for and with so many inspiring people.
Supporting the perfect next step for somebody is also very rewarding. We do people’s business, and I am a people person!
Do you socialise with the team?
Yes, as much as possible. We regularly have a drink or two after business hours.
We also do team lunches. I sometimes invite colleagues to watch a football match or light up the BBQ.
How do you spend time out of work and what are your main hobbies and passions?
During the week, I try to be at home at a reasonable time so that we can have a family dinner – though as I have a hard-working wife we sometimes get a takeaway.
At the weekend, I love to cook as well as do the shopping at a fresh market that has a great variety of fish, meat and vegetables. We often invite friends over too.
My other passion is football and I am an active Eintracht Frankfurt supporter. As A season ticket holder, I try to attend as many home matches as possible and also try to support the team away, nationally as well as internationally - last season was a blast which included a trip to Camp Nou in Barcelona!
As a family, we love to take small trips to see family and friends or visit nice places where dogs are allowed.
We have family in Switzerland and therefore lovely Ticino is often on our travel menu, lago e monti, while we also go home to Finland (where my wife is from) and many more places, particularly in Europe.
What are you currently looking forward to?
Besides our summer vacation in the South of France and Ticino, I am very much looking forward to hearing the Champions League anthem in Frankfurt next season.
There is also our long-planned trip Down Under next Easter to visit my sister who is living there with her family - Let’s say we do not see each other too often!
Can you tell us a little more about Frankfurt as a city?
I came to Frankfurt in the summer of 2000 and it’s changed a lot for the better.
Besides some new skyscrapers – there are still around 20 in planning or under construction – the neighbourhoods have also changed. A lot of little shops, bars and restaurants popped up and you can now choose between a traditional apple wine restaurant, great Sushi or really fine dining; especially in our neighbourhood Nordend.
What are your favourite places in Frankfurt?
As a family, we enjoy the more traditional places around our flat like Niewo (Berlin Art-Deco style Bar & Restaurant), Megaron (the best greek restaurant in Frankfurt) or the Bornheimer Ratskeller which serves authentic local and organic food.
Do you have any recommendations?
In the city, I recommend the great food at Papa Enj, just aside the Old Opera House – I often meet there with friends on a Friday night to start the weekend - or you might want to take a glass of wine on the rooftop bar of Fleming’s Hotel at the Eschersheimer Tower and enjoy the lovely view of the skyline.
Aside from wining and dining, I recommend the Fahrgasse with its little Art Galleries and Schirn and Städel as must-see museums. I would also recommend a stroll in our little City Zoo, the second oldest German Zoo after Berlin.
And, of course, you should try to watch a football match in the Waldstadion – our team represents Frankfurt in the best possible way: a likeable crowd of people from many different countries!