The Legal 500

Castrén & Snellman’s diverse recent caseload includes success in the appeal court for Nordea Bank Finland, and defending forestry company Stora Enso against a record €282m damages claim. Practice head Marko Hentunen has ‘great experience’ and is ‘able to identify the key issues quickly with very good insight’, and senior associate Anders Forss shows good ‘ability to digest huge amounts of complicated, technical information’.

‘Clearly one of the best’, Hannes Snellman Attorneys at Law Ltd’s ‘very professional’ team maintains a broad practice. It recently successfully defended the Finnish Transport Agency in the Supreme Court in Finland’s first damages claim following a breach of public procurement rules. Neste Oil, Nokia Siemens Networks and Wärtsilä are also clients. Practice head Mika Savola is ‘analytical and straight to the point’, and Antti Järvinen ‘keeps the momentum despite turning every stone’.

Roschier’s Helsinki team is noted for its market-leading IP litigation practice, as well as more generally for the heavyweight, cross-border litigation and arbitration abilities of the ‘sophisticated and skilled’ Petri Taivalkoski, who recently acted for a listed company in a €100m arbitration. Recently promoted partner Gisela Knuts also gives ‘valuable strategy advice’. Stockholm-based Claes Lundblad has overall responsibility for the firm’s disputes practice.

Bird & Bird’s diverse practice handles litigation and arbitration relating to the securities markets, trade secrets and construction, as well as white-collar crime. The group’s ‘expertise is superb’ and ‘continues to exceed expectations’. Tom Vapaavuori heads the team, which also includes Pekka Raatikainen and Marko Wainio, who is ‘one of the best litigators in Finland’.

Attorneys at law Borenius Ltd has a large team and the ‘backup resources to take care of bigger assignments’. Clients include the state government and Finnish airport maintenance company Finnavia; the team advised the latter in a damages claim against Skanska. Riku Paanila shows ‘very wide and thorough legal competence and thoughtful business understanding’.

Dittmar & Indrenius’ clients include General Motors and GlaxoSmithKline, and it successfully advised the latter in proceedings before the Market Court to confirm the National Institute for Health and Welfare’s public procurement of a GSK-manufactured vaccine. Jussi Lehtinen heads this ‘extremely good’ team, and Kari Lautjärvi’s arbitration skills are noteworthy.

Krogerus is in demand for disputes work throughout the country and the firm is representing several municipalities in Finland’s ongoing asphalt cartel cases in claims totalling €10m. Other clients include Santander. Jari-Pekka Alho and Mikko Elonheimo head this large team, which is ‘extremely efficient with a very pragmatic approach’. Raimo Seppälä joined from Peltonen LMR Attorneys Ltd.

Litigation boutique Lindfors & Co Attorneys at Law is in huge demand as the go-to firm for high-end corporate disputes. Patrik Lindfors is widely perceived as a leading litigator, and was sought for an ICC arbitration in Switzerland despite no link to the Finnish jurisdiction. Domestic work includes acting for Pohjola Bank in the country’s largest ever ‘squeeze-out’ litigation following a multibillion-euro takeover involving two Finnish companies. Lindfors is an ‘outstanding personality with great analytical skills’, and Petra Kiurunen and Antti Summa are also ‘excellent’.

Merilampi is the firm of choice for a string of international corporations and domestic public bodies. It is acting for an airline in an ECJ case. Clients rate the group’s quality and integrity and the ability to ‘quickly comprehend and analyse complex technical details’. Tapio Väätäinen and Lassi Kettula are recommended.

Waselius & Wist’s Jan Waselius and Tanja Jussila, a ‘positive litigator who prepares well’, have a busy caseload of contractual disputes and both lawyers regularly sit as arbitrators. Jussila acted for JCDecaux Finland in a dispute with Sampo Bank.

Hammarström Puhakka Partners, Attorneys Ltd is ‘best-in-class for tactical advice’, and has particular expertise in areas such as pharmaceuticals, maritime and environmental law. Maritime specialist Henrik Gahmberg is ‘a heavyweight in the Finnish and Nordic litigation and arbitration sector’. Clients include Metsäliitto, Teliasonera Finland, and Neste Oil, and the group advised the latter in an environmental dispute in the Supreme Court.

Juridia Ltd Attorneys-At-Law has a strong focus on IP, reflecting the wider firm’s strengths. Senior associate Sakari Salonen, who gives ‘quick’ and ‘practical’ advice, represented Crocs Inc in an EU design infringement case. Other clients include adidas and Sony Music Entertainment Finland.

‘Intelligent from a legal and business perspective’, Kotiranta & Co Attorney at Law Ltd is another boutique raising its profile. Highlights included acting for Elcoteq in a dispute with certain European financial institutions concerning a revolving credit facility. Kai Kotiranta’s ‘best attribute is his ability to grasp the business aspects of what clients are trying to accomplish’.

Lindholm Wallgren’s Tomas Lindholm, former managing partner at Roschier, brings 30 years’ experience to the litigation market. This boutique’s work is typically strategic disputes advice to major corporations, as well as representation in international arbitrations.

The merged firm of Peltonen LMR Attorneys Ltd lost Raimo Seppälä to Krogerus, but the team still boasts Jukka Peltonen, who has ‘extensive experience’. John-Henrik Spåre is also a standout – ‘our new go-to-guy for complex IP and trade secrets litigation’, according to one client. The team defended Sampo Bank in a €6.2m contractual claim against Lappipaneli Oy.

Procopé & Hornborg strengthened its practice by recruiting experienced litigator Pekka Inkeroinen from Hannes Snellman Attorneys at Law Ltd. Prominent cases for the group include a landmark case concerning jet engine noise pollution, and a construction dispute at the ECJ. Asta Siponen heads the group, which has ‘good industry knowledge’.

HH Partners, Attorneys-at-Law, Ltd successfully represented software games developer Electronic Arts in the Supreme Court, and has also represented clients in construction and employment disputes. Managing partner Markku Korvenmaa often takes the lead.

Law Firm Lindblad Ltd advises local businesses in disputes, including labour law and breach of contract claims. Markku Lindblad heads the team, which provides good client service.

Magnusson’s new practice, led by Jukka Blomberg with support from Mika Oksanen, recently acted in a €50m ICC arbitration. It has also acted for energy company St1.

Mäkitalo Rantanen & Co Ltd is acting for Finnish urban energy company Vantaan Energia in a €4.8m compensation claim as well as handling a dispute for construction group Lemminkäinen, showcasing the firm’s expertise in both sectors. Managing partner Antti Palmujoki and Annika Kiviharju lead the practice.