The Legal 500

Bird & Bird Attorneys Ltd’s large team of specialists include: Kari-Matti Lehti, who is praised for his negotiation skills and industry knowledge; specialist counsel Pekka Takki, a ‘very clear thinker’; and senior associate Jesper-Nevalainen, who has ‘an excellent understanding of ITC-related matters’. It acted for leading business software supplier, SAP in numerous deals to supply large business-critical IT systems and services to Finnish listed companies.

An exceptionally strong team at Attorneys at law Borenius & Kemppinen Ltd includes Pekka Tarkela at the helm, as well as Lasse Laarksonen and Samuli Simojoki. Response times, customer service and industry knowledge are all highlighted, as is the firm’s ‘right combination of agility with large enough resources’. It is advising Finnair on the renewal of its IT outsourcing and service agreements with IBM.

Castrén & Snellman is the preferred adviser to leading players from a broad range of industries, for example, Alma Media (a client gain in 2010), Elisa and Neste Oil. Arto Linnervuo and Kimmo Rekola have a wealth of experience and are ‘quick to understand the essentials in a case’. Recent work includes acting for Fortum Group on the re-tendering of its outsourced IT infrastructure services.

Hannes Snellman Attorneys at Law Ltd handles the IT work for numerous banks and insurance companies, such as OP-Pohjola, and is Finnish counsel to several global technology giants. It recently acted for a well-known service and equipment provider on a major network extension delivery and maintenance project, led by the much-praised Kaisa Fahllund supported by ‘dedicated’ senior associate Panu Siitonen. Of note is the firm’s work in Russia, where ‘the combination of TMT services and deep knowledge of the Russian environment cannot be found elsewhere’.

Size and focus ensures Krogerus a leading position in the market, with nine specialists at the firm including managing partner Juha Pekka Katainen, Sami Laine and former in-house counsel Mika Puittinen, who now heads the corporate advisory aspects of the department. The firm is ‘highly recommended for complex, large-scale projects’ and is exclusive supplier of legal services to the State Treasury, responsible for all IT procurements in the country. Active clients include Fujitsu Services, Elcoteq and DNA.

With ‘unquestionable expertise’, newly-promoted partner Mikko Manner heads Roschier’s ‘first-class’ practice, evidenced by a client list that includes Nokia, Finnish telecoms company Elisa, global listed company Metso and the Finnish Commercial Radio Broadcasters’ Association, RadioMedia. Manner is a ‘very impressive’ negotiator with ‘outstanding industry knowledge in the new telecom space’. The firm acts as global lead counsel for Nokia in software and patent-intensive technology transactions.

Far smaller in size, HH Partners, Attorneys-at-Law, Ltd steps into the limelight in this sector, advising a raft of global technology companies. Clients include a leading internet brand and a Japanese-based digital equipment manufacturer, advising the latter on establishing a webshop. Taina Tuohino, Alf-Ole Wanamo and Martin von Willebrand are among several partners specialising in the technology and e-commerce fields.

Continuing to raise its profile is Hammarström Puhakka Partners, Attorneys Ltd. Pharmaceuticals specialist Klaus Nyblin advises an impressive array of well-known multinationals, such as Bristol-Myers Squibb, while technology and telecoms clients include F-Secure Corporation and TeliaSonera. Specialist counsel Andrew Cotton and Pekka Puhakka lead much of the technology and telecoms work respectively.

A good year for Merilampi saw former Roschier head of TMT, Sakari Aalto, join the firm to head the practice, and the merger with Veikko Palotie & Co, bringing media and sports law expertise in Mika Pakarinen and senior associate Pertti Lenkkeri. The firm advises telecom Elisa on regulatory issues and in various disputes.

Procopé & Hornborg’s investment in this field is paying dividends, with the ambitious team attracting praise for its ‘business acumen and industry knowledge’. In particular, practice head and specialist counsel Tiina Ashorn is ‘very talented’. Clients include an international financial institution, a major domestic telecoms group and a large software supplier.

Clients of Dittmar & Indrenius praise the dedication of the team, which ‘takes time to get to know our business’. In particular, Sakari Halonen has ‘great expertise and solidity’. The firm advises a number of multinationals on their dealings with Nokia, including Toshiba Europe, and acts as Finnish counsel to Hewlett-Packard in respect of various TMT assignments.

Attorneys-At-Law Juridia Ltd has a substantial technology client base, attracted by the significant IP expertise at the firm, including Swedish listed company KnowIT, which Peter Salovaara advised on its €9m acquisition of Endero, a leading Finnish IT consultancy firm.

LMR Attorneys Ltd has ‘a high level of industry knowledge’ and boosted its practice significantly with the hire of new practice head Timo Sipi, former name partner at Asianajotoimisto Sipi & Suominen Oy, and senior counselors Timo Ruikka and Johan Schmidt. All three have experience in-house, including a period at Nokia.

Mäkitalo Rantanen & Co Ltd impresses following the hire of admired partner Juha Taipale and two colleagues from top-tier firm Krogerus. The firm is advising a major ICT service provider in an ICC arbitration in Helsinki concerning a substantial liability and compensation claim.

Boutique Susiluoto Attorneys-at-Law Ltd is highly-focused on this area, where Tapio Susiluoto has many years’ experience, particularly in the litigious arena. Several practitioners at the 16-lawyer firm specialise in TMT.