The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance, Hannes Snellman Attorneys at Law Ltd is a first tier firm,

Hannes Snellman Attorneys at Law Ltd’s highly experienced team has close relationships with several major Nordic and international banks, such as Nordea Bank Finland and Barclays Bank, and it advised both on the state’s Treasury Bill Programme update involving 20 international dealers. Practice head Henrik Mattson provides an ‘extremely analytical performance for the large and sensitive matters’, and is recommended along with the much-praised Matti Engelberg and Markus Bremer.

Within Capital markets, Hannes Snellman Attorneys at Law Ltd is a first tier firm,

Hannes Snellman Attorneys at Law Ltd is ‘among the best in the market on every count’, and ‘second to none in relation to response times, industry knowledge and advice’. Completed deals included advising Avlis AB and parent company Fiskars Corporation on the former’s €110.6m accelerated book-build offering of shares in Wärtsilä, a matter which involved teams in the firm’s Helsinki and Stockholm offices. Co-head Klaus Ilmonen is ‘an excellent capital markets lawyer’.

Within Corporate and M&A, Hannes Snellman Attorneys at Law Ltd is a first tier firm,

Despite a ‘significant shift in the senior team which has impacted our perception slightly negatively’, says one client, Hannes Snellman Attorneys at Law Ltd remains hard to beat for premium cross-border transactions, such as acting for Shell on the $640m sale of its Finnish and Swedish refining and marketing businesses to Keele Oy. Former managing partner Carl-Henrik Wallin and head of private M&A Mathias Lindqvist left to found Avance Attorneys Ltd, but the team still has a wealth of experience that is arguably ‘better than the rest’, particularly in the form of Mikko Heinonen, Sten Olsson and Johan Aalto.

Within Dispute resolution, Hannes Snellman Attorneys at Law Ltd is a first tier firm,

‘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’.

Within EU and competition, Hannes Snellman Attorneys at Law Ltd is a first tier firm,

Hannes Snellman Attorneys at Law Ltd is ‘one of the best we have used worldwide’, according to one multinational client. The group acted for Nikon in a parallel imports case against the Finnish Competition Authority (FCA); Shell on merger control issues; and Componenta plc in the first state aid litigation before the European courts involving Finnish parties. Head of competition Mikael Wahlbeck is ‘a true expert in his area’, as is Mika Pohjonen.

Within Intellectual property, Hannes Snellman Attorneys at Law Ltd is a first tier firm,

Hannes Snellman Attorneys at Law Ltd advises on IP issues at the highest level, including transactional support such as advising on IP aspects of Sanoma Television’s sale of cable TV operator Welho to DNA; and in patent litigation between rival pharmaceuticals manufacturers. Head of technology Kaisa Fahllund leads this ‘highly customer-focused’ team, and Panu Siitonen leads in IP litigation.

Within Legal market overview,

Finland’s flagship firms Hannes Snellman Attorneys at Law Ltd and Roschier each underwent a second change of leadership in two years, respectively with Carl-Henrik Wallin and Ulf-Henrik Kull curtailing their tenures. In an interesting twist, the pair united to form new corporate boutique Avance Attorneys Ltd, an enterprise with great potential in a market where individuals can carry more sway than firm logos, as evidenced by the rise of the litigation boutiques.

Within Real estate and construction, Hannes Snellman Attorneys at Law Ltd is a first tier firm,

Hannes Snellman Attorneys at Law Ltd has been busy advising investor clients such as Sagax and ING Real Estate, and advised Sveafastigheter Fund III on multiple transactions, including the €50m purchase of ten retail properties with deal partner Mattila & Saxen Property Partners. However, the team is in a state of flux after head of real estate Nicolas Berner departed in 2011, and was followed shortly afterwards by his successor Christoffer Charpentier, who moved to the newly established firm Avance Attorneys Ltd.

Within TMT , Hannes Snellman Attorneys at Law Ltd is a first tier firm,

Hannes Snellman Attorneys at Law Ltd’s clients include Microsoft, Apple and Google, and many IT users such as major banks and insurance companies. Head of technology Kaisa Fahllund, who is popular for her ‘professionalism’ and ‘can-do’ approach, leads on many matters and recently advised a foreign ICT service provider on the dissolution of a large service agreement with a Finnish multinational.

Within Tax, Hannes Snellman Attorneys at Law Ltd is a first tier firm,

Hannes Snellman Attorneys at Law Ltd made a landmark appeal to the European Court of Human Rights concerning the peaceful enjoyment of property and the retroactive taxation of employee stock options. It also advised Pohjantahti Mutual Insurance Company on tax aspects of its proposed merger into Pohjola Bank, a deal which was subsequently blocked by shareholders. Head of tax Ossi Haapaniemi is noted for his financial prowess, while clients ‘appreciate the firm’s expertise and experience on all tax issues’.