“The best part of this job is that you are never truly finished learning”

Counsel Vilja Virta from our Restructuring & Insolvency practice reflects on her career journey from joining Krogerus as a trainee with little knowledge of insolvency law to building her expertise in the field over more than a decade. She shares how complex assignments, collaboration and learning from experienced colleagues have shaped her development, and how her role has evolved over the years to include leading projects and supporting the development of younger lawyers.

How has your career been so far and how did you end up at Krogerus?

I started at Krogerus as a trainee in 2010 and worked full time for nearly two years, after which I took a few months break to write my thesis (but even then, I could not stay away for long, as I ended up writing it at Krogerus). I joined the firm as an Associate in early 2012. 

At the beginning of my career, I knew next to nothing about insolvency law. At that time, there was no course on insolvency law at the University, and bankruptcy and corporate restructuring proceedings were barely touched upon. During my studies I focused mainly on company law and becoming a lawyer, let alone specializing in insolvency, was never really the master plan, but that is exactly what happened.  

Insolvency law and working at a law firm gripped me right from the start. Early on in my career at Krogerus, I immediately had the opportunity to be involved in large-scale bankruptcy and corporate restructuring proceedings and other highly interesting, complex projects. I quickly realised I was dealing with matters that could never be learned from books alone. An overwhelming attraction to the work and the profession grew on me quickly. 

I am a process-oriented person. Insolvency law is a branch of procedural law where, alongside outcomes and results, the process itself has independent and essential significance, and that is something I enjoy. I have always had an appreciation for rules and norms, which is probably what drew me to law in the first place. In another life I may have become a judge – the pursuit of objective truth is that fascinating. Now, in insolvency proceedings, particularly in the role of a bankruptcy administrator, one gets to exercise a kind of judicial role: instead of advocating for any single party, a bankruptcy administrator’s role is to establish the facts impartially and safeguard the collective interests of creditors. This setting, along with the independence that comes with it, is something I value highly.

Building my career and specializing in insolvency law at Krogerus has been super rewarding because no two projects are the same and there is always a tough problem to solve. Plus, you get a front-row seat to how different companies actually operate behind the scenes and that – the people involved and their specific situations – is what makes it all so fascinating. 

In what ways has your expertise evolved during your time at Krogerus and what have been the most important drivers of your professional growth?

This might sound a bit boring to say but building expertise for me has been all about doing the work over and over again, stacking knowledge and understanding, piece by piece. Working on large-scale, complex insolvency cases has given me a boost, with each project teaching me something valuable that I use every day now. And the best part of this job is that you are never truly finished learning, no matter how experienced you get, as the playing field keeps constantly evolving. 

Insolvency assignments are, above all, teamwork, and much of the learning takes place within the team and in collaboration with colleagues. Looking back, I feel really fortunate to have had the opportunity to develop and grow alongside and under the guidance of such sharp, experienced colleagues, who never hesitated to share their time, talk things through and mentor me. Our team’s positive, laid-back atmosphere has helped a lot, too.

How has your role evolved over the course of your career and what keeps your work interesting and motivating?

My role in handling assignments has changed significantly over the course of my career, and especially in the most recent years. The focus has shifted from hands-on substantive legal work towards leading projects, people and client relationships. At the same time, my level of responsibility has grown, requiring a pivot in my focus: instead of diving into every little detail, my role is now more about overseeing the whole of the operation and making sure our projects are on the right track.  

While I really enjoy leading projects, taking on this new role has honestly been a bit bittersweet. I am the kind of lawyer who gets excited to dive into details the second a legal problem pops up, and I greatly enjoy the writing part too. As my career has progressed, I have had to accept that I am not the one doing deep-dive research and initial drafting anymore – my role now is more about reviewing, refining and challenging the work of others. 

Today, a significant part of my work also involves supporting the development of younger lawyers. I find this role challenging, but also highly rewarding. It is wonderful to be able to pass on the lessons and experiences gained over the course of my own career, while at the same time learning fresh perspectives and ways of thinking from younger colleagues. It is particularly motivating, and even a source of pride, to see younger colleagues grow and take leaps forward in their careers. 

Piece of advice you would give an aspiring lawyer

• Being a lawyer is a (demanding) client service profession. This holds true even when you are not yet directly dealing with the actual client. As a trainee, your client is the associate, later in your career, it is a more senior lawyer or partner. This perspective can help you perform better, ultimately driving your career forward.
• Take ownership and think ahead. If you spot a potential issue, do not just report it but present a viable solution, or preferably two, along with it.
• There is no point in over-planning or locking down your career path too early. Embrace the unexpected instead, stay receptive and great opportunities have a way of finding you. Chance plays a huge part in where you will be a decade from now. 

Vilja's career in numbers