Juli Mansnérus joined Dittmar & Indrenius’ partnership in August 2021 as the new Co-Head of Life Sciences and Healthcare.
Q: What keeps you busy right now?
In addition to my three lovely little ones that keep me busy at home, I’m currently working on a great deal of different IPR and pharmaceutical law related questions. Among other things, I’ve been assisting a client in an international trademark dispute and a pharma client to optimise its filing strategy to gain timely access to clinical trials.
Q: How have you handled the pandemic and remote work?
I have spent most of this time with my family in Åland Islands. My offspring was playing in our garden and jumping on the red granite cliffs, while I conducted my investigations and drafted memoranda. It’s a very isolated place, so it was always very nice to have some human contact in online meetings. To me, working remotely has worked well but I do admit I have loved being at the D&I office at Pohjoisesplanadi 25 this August!
Q: True or false: An academic career and a career at a law firm are mutually exclusive.
Definitely false. In my early career, I faced some prejudice and was once encouraged to abandon my research endeavours. Luckily, I was too fascinated by patent law and life sciences, and decided to follow my own path. I feel that being both a researcher and an attorney can be helpful for understanding the big picture. I feel lucky and privileged to have had the chance to experience the best of both worlds.
I love to exchange ideas with students and make them reflect the practical aspects of everything they are learning – and the other way around! I have gained plenty of new insights from real life experiences as an attorney for my academic research. Quite recently, I have been involved in editing an anthology on Personalised Medicine: Legal and Ethical Challenges. (Personalized Medicine: Legal and Ethical Challenges — University of Helsinki.)
Q: What made you choose D&I?
D&I’s Powerhouse concept is simply genius. The client-centric approach convinced me. It has been great to see in real life how seamlessly the teams are connected to support the clients’ business goals.
The culture of D&I feels easy and accessible. Besides being outstandingly skilled, the people of D&I are real and warm. It has felt very natural and straightforward to work together with all my new colleagues across the firm.
Q: What would be your plan B? If law was not available, what would you be doing for a living?
I think I might be wearing a white lab coat or perhaps would be pursuing a career in pharma. You never know, perhaps I resume my studies in that field when I turn 60.
Q: For what kind of attorney qualities would you like to be respected for?
Both as an attorney and a colleague, I would like to be respected for being innovative, reliable, efficient and easy to work with. I personally respect these qualities in all people with whom I work.
Q: How would you advise young law students and your 18-year-old self?
Don’t try to optimise everything. In particular, don’t even think about completing the entire law school curriculum in three years. Instead, stay curious, be brave and do what you enjoy the most. Don’t worry about the future too much. It will be bright anyway!
