The Legal 500

Clients value the ‘good, appropriate advice and excellent strength in depth of the team’ at Attorneys at law Borenius Ltd, which has a wealth of experience across all areas of EU and competition law and where ‘value for money is really good’. Practice head Ilkka Aalto-Setälä ‘can build on past experience, is always able to provide relevant advice, and will not make promises he cannot keep’. He recently represented Finnair in connection with the Finnish Competition Authority’s cartel investigation regarding duty-free sales at Finland’s airports.

Castrén & Snellman has ‘a superb team of professionals who have a fantastic way of combining skills and focusing their resources when needed’. The firm has long been considered one of Finland’s finest for EU and competition matters, and the team is led by Hannu Pokela, who is ‘perhaps unrivalled as a competition attorney in Finland’. Clients praise Pokela’s calmness under pressure with one saying, ‘in case of emergency, break glass and call Hannu’. Additionally, Sari Hiltunen is ‘an outstanding competition lawyer who is creative and enthusiastic’, and Hannele Huimala is ‘a task force in one person’.

Hannes Snellman Attorneys at Law Ltd is known for its ‘extensive professionalism’ and ‘in-depth knowledge in written law and case law’. The team recently advised Sanoma on the €130m sale of Finnish and Baltic retail chain, R.Kiosk, to Norwegian firm Reitan Servicehandel after it was referred to the European Competition Commission. The team is led by Mikael Wahlbeck, who ‘thinks one step ahead of other lawyers’ and has long been considered one of Finland’s foremost experts in competition law. Mika Pohjonen is praised for his ‘great verbal and written communication’, and is highly recommended.

The highly rated competition lawyers at Krogerus recently advised littala Group Ltd (a Fiskars Group affiliate) in resale price maintenance proceedings before the Finnish Market Court. Katri Joenpolvi and Leena Lindberg jointly lead the team and are well known and highly respected competition practitioners. Counsel Terhi Kauti heads the firm’s public procurement practice, an area in which she has established a significant reputation.

‘The communication flow is flawless’ at Merilampi and ‘the commitment is outstanding and exceptional, demonstrating its ability even in the most complex areas’. The team provides competition law advice to high-profile clients such as Suomen Palautuspakkaus and Kesko Corporation, and is defending Skanska in many follow-on claims for damages before the Helsinki District Court and arising from the asphalt cartel. The Court’s decision, which is expected in spring 2013, will set a precedent for follow-on damage cases in Finland and across Scandinavia. Arttu Mentula and Erkko Ruohoniemi are well-known competition experts.

Peltonen LMR Attorneys Ltd is representing NCC Roads and Intersfaltti, two large Finnish road construction companies, in numerous asphalt cartel damages claims. They form part of the biggest bundle of competition damages cases so far in the country. Ilkka Leppihalme and Jukka Luostarinen are highly recommended.

Roschier has ‘top-tier, extremely professional practitioners in its competition law team’. ‘The team is 100% reliable and always delivers, providing hands-on, to-the-point advice’ under practice head Christian Wik. ‘Young superstar’ and senior associate Ami Paanajärvi ‘impresses with in-depth expertise in several areas of competition law’, and Niko Hukkinen is ‘one of the leading competition law practitioners in Finland, especially in the field of merger filings where his skills and knowledge are outstanding’.

Bird & Bird is advising Ilmarinen Mutual Pension Insurance Company on competition issues relating to the Swedish state-owned energy utility Vattenfall as it sold its district heating and electricity distribution businesses in Finland to a consortium including the client. Practice head Katia Duncker, who led on the matter, has significant experience in public procurement and competition litigation. Managing partner Jori Taipale is also recommended.

Dittmar & Indrenius recently represented motor part wholesaler, Örum, which was alleged to have participated in concerted practice towards one customer chain. Original fines of €1m were upheld on appeal in February 2012 by the Supreme Administrative Court, which was the first leniency case ever handled there. The highly regarded Petteri Uoti led the case. Department head Hanna Laurila is a leading competition lawyer.

Hammarström Puhakka Partners, Attorneys Ltd, which is a market leader in dawn raid processes, recently advised Finavia, the managing body of 25 Finnish airports, on a dawn raid made by the Finnish Competition Authority as part of an investigation into alleged illegal conduct in relation to duty-free sales. The practice ‘provides excellent legal services’, and its ‘attitude in serving clients is excellent’. Department head Tuomas Saraste is ‘an expert in competition law and his experience is remarkable’.

Procopé & Hornborg continues to represent IFPI, an association representing the recording industry worldwide, in an application to intervene brought before the EU General Court concerning the collective licensing of online musical rights. The team, which is led by the well-respected Lotta Uusitalo, also has expertise in public procurement and state aid issues.

Waselius & Wist’s department head Mikko Eerola recently successfully defended JCDecaux, an international media company, in an abuse of dominance case before the Finnish Competition Authority.

White & Case advises Finnish companies and multinationals on competition law. Counsel Suzanne Innes-Stubb, who heads the department, recently advised Itochu on merger control and related issues in connection with its €472m acquisition of a minority shareholding in Finnish pulp producer Metsä Fibre Oy.

Avance Attorneys’ practice is developing well, and the department, led by Mikko Alkio, supports the firm’s M&A practice as well as advising local firms on a variety of other competition matters.

Bützow Attorneys Ltd has been acting for a client in the ongoing asphalt cartel case and provides the full range of EU and competition services to public sector clients and private companies.

HH Partners, Attorneys-at-Law, Ltd advises clients including BP and a Nortel Networks subsidiary on a range of competition issues.

Juridia Ltd Attorneys-At-Law handles contentious and regulatory competition matters, particularly in support of its strong intellectual property practice.

Reims & Co’s Thomas Huber advises on a broad range of competition matters.