Monday, July 20, 2009

ILN-terviews: Staffan Michelson, Hellstrom

Welcome to ILN-terviews, a series of profiles of ILN member firm attorneys, designed to give a unique insight into the lawyers who make up our Network.

For our latest interview, we chose longtime ILN member, Staffan Michelson of Hellström in Stockholm, Sweden. Staffan has been a part of the ILN since 1994, and is certainly one of the reasons we're able to say that the ILN is a place "where lawyers become friends."

In one sentence, how would you describe your practice?
Commercial Litigation and Arbitration, Property, Environmental Law and Intellectual Property.

Who would be your typical client?
This question is too difficult; none of my clients or potential clients are typical. They are public companies, medium market companies, small companies, private persons, municipalities, organisations...

What would you like clients and potential clients to know about you?
That I am a senior partner of an excellent firm, Hellström, with lots of excellent lawyers.

What has been your most challenging case? Why?
My first "real" litigation many years ago. Thrilling and very successful.

What has been your proudest moment as a lawyer?
When I won my first case - just because it made my client so extremely happy.

What do you do when you're not practicing law?
Reading. Or writing my next book - the recent one was about Water in History of Civilization. Or I play the violin, or the trombone or the banjo with my best friends.

What would surprise people most about you?
Sometimes people become quite surprised to find me in my wife's art gallery close to our summer house, far away from Stockholm City, marketing her paintings, photos and ceramic sculptures. But in fact, there are secrets much more surprising...


What has been your most memorable ILN experience?
My very first ILN conference in Copenhagen discovering, in a few days, the ILN spirit of lawyers making friends.

What career would you have chosen if you weren't a lawyer?
May I dream without limits? I think I would have loved to become an author, an architect, a journalist, or a world famous film director.


How would you like to be remembered?
As a good father for my children, as a loved husband, as a lawyer my clients wanted on their side and as somebody who believed in the importance of justice, humor and fellow-feeling.

No comments:

Post a Comment