The Legal 500

Castrén & Snellman is ‘good for everything related to real estate’. The team recently advised a major real estate fund on a large legal due diligence review as well as the sale and purchase of a €90m portfolio comprising multi-logistics and industrial properties. The team is jointly led by Uwe Uusitalo, environmental specialist Matias Wallgren and Tapio Teräkivi, who is ‘reliable and understands that the deal must be done and can propose different alternatives and solutions’.

Krogerus’ full-service real estate team recently advised Niam Nordic V real estate fund on its acquisition of a portfolio of 15 offices and two retail properties in the Helsinki area totalling more than 100,000sq m. This was one of the largest portfolio transactions in the Finnish market in 2012. Other clients include CapMan Real Estate, Goldman Sachs, Carlyle, Sponda plc, Redevco, and YIT plc. The highly experienced Samuli Palin and Juha Wessman lead the practice.

Roschier’s real estate and construction team focuses on acquisitions, property development, fund structuring and finance. It recently advised Arif I Ky, a fund managed by Amplion Asset Management, on its €28m acquisition of an eight-property retail portfolio from Varma Mutual Pension Fund. Other clients include UBS Red Estate, EU Invest A/S, Cordea Savills, and Kapitalanlagegesellschaft. Highly rated real estate specialist Mika Alanko leads this strong department, which recently recruited Tuija Catalano from San Francisco-based Reuben & Junius LLP.

Avance Attorneys’ Christoffer Charpentier is regarded as ‘one of the best’ real estate and construction lawyers in Finland. ‘Pragmatic and effective’ transactional expert Mathias Lindqvist recently assisted Ektorenet AB, part of Swedbank Group, with the sale of an office real estate company to a group of private investors.

Bird & Bird continues to advise Nordic Real Estate Partners on property transactions and portfolio management in Finland. Team head Jaakko Hietala is highly regarded. Pekka Raatikainen leads on construction matters.

Attorneys at law Borenius Ltd’s ‘team is responsive, knowledgeable and timely’. Practice head Casper Herler advised Northland on environmental due diligence, strategic planning, zoning, permit proceedings, and land acquisitions pertaining to the opening of a large iron ore mine in northern Finland. Christian Fogelholm and Paulus Hidén are ‘straight to the point, respected in the market, reliable and solution-oriented’.

Dittmar & Indrenius is ‘very good’ for real estate matters. Raija-Leena Ojanen recently advised HANSAINVEST – which is part of Signal Iduna Group, one of the largest German insurance and financial services providers – on its €65m acquisition of Triotto Business Park in Helsinki, which is under construction by YIT Construction. The team is led by the well-respected Antti Aaltonen.

Hammarström Puhakka Partners, Attorneys Ltd is ‘very quick and the responses are clear and accurate’. The department is jointly led by Kari Marttinen, ‘a great specialist’ who makes the firm ‘the best in environmental law’, and Jari Tuomala, who handles real estate development projects, investments and other transactions. The team recently advised Finavia on complex land use and environmental permitting of Finland’s main international airport, Helsinki-Vantaa. Mikko Erkkilä is ‘strong on building law issues and has good case-to-case background knowledge’, and Henrik Gahmberg is ‘an excellent litigator’.

Hannes Snellman Attorneys at Law Ltd recently advised Wereldhave NV on its €45m sale of Stockmann’s department store property in Espoo to Tapiola KR III property fund. The team is led by Juha Lindström.

Mäkitalo Rantanen & Co Ltd has a particular emphasis on construction and real estate development projects, and has been busy with major energy projects. Newly promoted partner Aimo Halonen led advice to Suomen Hyötytuuli on its Kirrinsanta wind farm construction project.

Merilampi advises on contentious and non-contentious real estate, zoning, project finance and construction matters. It recently acted for Union Investment Real Estate when it acquired Events Business Garden development project from Invest for €62m, which will serve as the future headquarters of the Finnish listed company Outotec. Team head Teemu Kauttu and construction expert Lauri Tolvanen are recommended. Jani Ylä-Auttio is ‘really excellent’.

White & Case specialises in advising major financial institutions on real estate finance and the restructuring of existing financing facilities. The team recently advised SEB on the financing of two Finnish real estate companies owned by a German open-ended fund. Experienced team head Tanja Törnkvist and Timo Airisto are highly regarded.