Effects of New US Measures to Counter DEI Policies – Interview with Klaus Ilmonen in Talouselämä Magazine

Our partner Klaus Ilmonen was recently interviewed by Talouselämä magazine in relation to the new US administration’s measures to counter existing corporate policies on diversity, equity, and inclusion (“DEI”) and their possible effects on Finnish companies. In the interview, Klaus discusses what international companies operating in the US, and especially those with business with the federal government, should take into account with their DEI programs. He also explains the risks that come with non-compliance with Trump’s executive orders on DEI. These have been designed to encourage companies to end their DEI programs to mitigate risks for investigations and legal measures by US officials. The Office of the Attorney General is currently scrutinising companies’ DEI practices in an attempt to set precedents, which further underlines the need for companies to carefully review their DEI programs in the United States. So far, a number of companies appear to be taking steps to ensure compliance in the United States while pursuing existing DEI policies elsewhere in accordance with past practice.

Klaus heads Hannes Snellman’s Capital Markets Practice, and he has significant experience in US securities law. Klaus has previously practised US securities law for a US law firm in its London office, where he represented European issuers and underwriters in international securities offerings and also worked on international M&A transactions. Klaus has also been a visiting researcher at Harvard Law School, and he holds an LL.M. degree from Columbia Law School in New York.

To read the full article (available in Finnish), please click here.