The Legal 500

Attorneys at law Borenius Ltd has a strong reputation in project finance, having acted on the financing of numerous energy and infrastructure projects. The team also has expertise in real estate financing, insolvency, restructuring and refinancing. Highly respected finance expert Andrei Aganimov heads the team, which recently advised a syndicate of lenders on the €1.5bn financing of the acquisition of major European energy company Vattenfall’s assets in Finland. The team also advised Sampo Bank on a revolving facility agreement with Suomen Lähikauppa Oy.

Castrén & Snellman represents numerous major domestic and international banks, and is known for its ‘hands-on and practical’ approach. The team, which is recognised for its project finance expertise, recently acted as lead counsel to the consortium behind the project company on the financing of the design, planning and construction of a new section of the E18 motorway between Loviisa and Kotka. Pekka Lehtinen is chairman of the Nordic Counsel of the International Project Finance Association. Tero Tuomisto heads the practice.

Hannes Snellman Attorneys at Law Ltd provides ‘high quality, sensible advice’ on acquisition or real estate finance and corporate restructuring. The department, which regularly represents several major Nordic and international banks, recently acted as lead counsel to a consortium of 3i, Goldman Sachs and Ilmaren on its €1.5bn acquisition of Vattenfall’s Finnish electricity distribution and district heating business. Practice head Henrik Mattson is hugely experienced, and Matti Engelberg is recommended for his ‘good understanding of what works and what doesn’t in a changing market’. Markus Bremer and ‘talented’ young partner Maria Lassenius are also recommended.

‘Thoughtful and experienced in its approach’, Roschier has vast experience in acquisition and asset finance, refinancing and restructuring, and private equity and real estate transactions. The highly respected Gunnar Westerlund heads the team. His ‘creative and business-minded’ team recently advised the lenders on the €623m financing of the development, construction and maintenance of the E18 motorway between Koshenkyla and Kotka in southern Finland.

White & Case handles some of the most complex and significant financing mandates in Finland. The team recently advised SEB on the financing of two Finnish real estate companies owned by a German open-ended fund. Practice head Tanja Törnkvist is ‘an all-round financial expert’, and Timo Airisto is also highly regarded.

Bird & Bird advises various banks and other financial institutions on financial transactions, as well as regulatory and contentious issues, and the team’s ‘response times and industry knowledge are always really good’. Managing partner Jori Taipale is a leading figure in the market. Senior associate Mikko Luukkonen has a growing reputation in cross-border financings.

Dittmar & Indrenius focuses on complex, cross-border deals including acquisition financings, and this ‘very responsive and commercially minded’ team recently advised a developer on the financing of a large-scale energy project. Practice head Juha-Pekka Mutanen is ‘an excellent financial lawyer’, and newly promoted partner Robin Nordblad is ‘young and hungry, and will become a star’.

The ‘overall level of service is excellent’ at Krogerus, which has expertise including acquisition finance, mezzanine finance, export and trade finance, and derivative transactions, among others. The team recently advised Sveafastigheter on obtaining a €100m loan to finance its acquisition of a portfolio of 68 grocery store properties across Finland. The team also advised HKScan on the €250m refinancing of its credit facilities. The department is jointly led by the highly rated Kimmo Mettälä and Päivi Toivari, who is ‘one of Finland’s best financial lawyers’.

Waselius & Wist has been active in large, cross-border financings, including recently advising Banco Santander and Santander Consumer Finance on a €482m auto loans securitisation, the first ever in Finland. Well respected practice head Lauri Peltola recently represented a syndicate of lenders in making a €180m long-term club loan to Tikkurila Oyj. Tarja Wist is also recommended.

Despite its very recent formation, Avance Attorneys has already established a noteworthy presence in the market, and it advised Nordea Bank Finland plc on the financing of TuuliMuukko Oy’s construction of a new wind farm. The ‘very good’ Sari Wallgren handles all manner of financial transactions and was praised by one client for ‘negotiating a bank facility agreement in record time’. Elisa Heinonen is also ‘skilful, detailed and service-oriented’.

Hammarström Puhakka Partners, Attorneys Ltd demonstrates ‘good knowledge and timely responses’, and provides ‘a high level of service’. The firm advises on debt financing and loan facilities as well as equity-based and mezzanine financing. Björn Nykvist ‘makes things happen’ and has ‘a pragmatic approach’. Jörgen Hammarström is also recommended.

Merilampi has ‘good banking knowledge’, and its expertise spans new-money financing, as well as refinancing and regulatory matters. The practice has an enviable list of clients, particularly on the regulatory side, including Nordea Bank, Nordnet Bank, Citibank, and S-Bank. The team is led by Ari Keinänen, whose ‘commitment is exceptional’.

Peltonen LMR Attorneys Ltd’s numerous banking clients include BNP Paribas, RBS, Citibank, HSBC, and Société Générale. Hans Sundblad and department head Mikko Ojala are ‘very good at providing legal services relating to domestic and international financial issues’. Janne Tuulos and Antti Niemi are also recommended. Niemi recently advised OM Group, a major North American chemicals manufacturer, on Finnish aspects of its $1bn acquisition by VAC Group.

HH Partners, Attorneys-at-Law, Ltd has an excellent reputation in bankruptcy and insolvency matters, and also handles voluntary restructurings and disputes relating to asset recovery or management liability. Arto Kukkonen has a strong reputation and is hugely experienced in such matters.

Juridia Ltd Attorneys-At-Law handles financial structuring work as part of its transactional practice, and also has significant regulatory experience. Mika Taberman and Olli Iirola are recommended.

Procopé & Hornborg assists corporate clients and financial institutions with various financings. The team, which includes the well-respected Keith Kessel, has particular expertise in insurance matters. It is also increasingly advising family-run operations on wealth management, which is an area of expertise for newly made-up partner Harriet Rydberg.