The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance, Roschier is a first tier firm,

Hannes Snellman Attorneys at Law Ltd’s pan-Nordic resources and numerous experts attract sophisticated international mandates as well as Finland’s largest deals, including advising OP Mortgage Bank on its issue of €1.25bn Finnish covered bonds. Clients rate the firm’s project management and ‘innovative legal solutions’, led by ‘very experienced debt lawyer’ Henrik Mattson. The departure of Kari Lautjärvi was eased by the ‘very analytical approach’ of Matti Engelberg and Markus Bremer.

Within Capital markets, Roschier is a first tier firm,

Roschier’s reputation for first-class finance expertise extends to capital markets, where Dimitrios Himonas leads a team that is ‘happy to think creatively, which is exactly what you want from a top law practice’. Senior associate Elisa Heinonen is considered a rising star by clients. The firm advised JPMorgan and Pohjola Corporate Finance as joint global coordinators and underwriters of Amer Sports’ €160m rights issue.

Within Corporate and M&A, Roschier is a first tier firm,

Across the table of the Renesas/Nokia deal was Roschier, which also advised Metsäliito on the sale of the Uruguay operations of its joint venture with UPM-Kymmene, a deal valued in excess of €1.4bn. Despite the departures of Lennart Simonsen and then Ulf-Henrik Kull, who was managing partner and head of M&A, good talent remains with Jon Unnérus, Toni Siimes and Jouni Salmi all recommended. Advice is ‘top-notch’ and ‘on the level of leading international firms’.

Within Dispute resolution , Roschier is a first tier firm,

Roschier has a pool of talent in ‘exceptionally good’ Petri Taivalkoski, who is a ‘calm, measured advocate’, Eva Nordman-Rajaharju and a large team of experienced associates who are ‘extremely professional, approachable and hard-working’. Of these, Gisela Knuts and Johanna Lilja stand out, say clients. The firm continues to act for British American Tobacco Finland in the global product liability action, and is representing Merck in a number of patent litigations concerning drugs.

Within EU and competition, Roschier is a first tier firm,

Expertise and flexibility combine to make Roschier a leader in this field, receiving multiple plaudits, even from competitors’ clients. Advice is largely to major corporations from a host of sectors, such as Oy Kaha Ab in Finland’s automotive spare parts cartel case, the first Finnish case to award leniency as well as potential follow-on damages. The ‘industry-savvy’ Christian Wik heads the team that includes senior associates Ami Paanajärvi, ‘an excellent talent’ and Niko Hukkinen who is ‘an absolute professional’.

Within Intellectual property, Roschier is a first tier firm,

Few practices attract as much praise as Roschier’s, where Rainer Hilli leads a ‘remarkable’ and ‘extremely resourceful, knowledgeable and professional team’. Hilli himself is ‘approachable’, ‘sharp’ and noted for his advocacy and courtroom presence. Both Mikael Segercrantz and Mikko Manner made partner in 2010. Major clients include Nokia, a host of household-name pharmaceuticals and domestic telecom Elisa, advising it on one of the first patent litigations in the telecoms sector in Finland.

Within Legal market overview,

This stable and conservative legal market witnessed uncharacteristic change during 2010. The first significant merger in years took place when top-ten firm Merilampi united with the former Veikko Palotie & Co creating a 40-lawyer general practice; and a trend that commenced two years before took hold, seeing A-list individuals, particularly litigators, flee the potential client conflicts and managerial burdens of their large firms in order to pursue their own enterprises. Kari Lautjärvi followed Patrik Lindfors in leaving Hannes Snellman Attorneys at Law Ltd to establish his own boutique; likewise, former head of dispute resolution at Attorneys at law Borenius & Kemppinen Ltd, Kai Kotiranta, set up alone, as did former Roschier senior partner Tomas Lindholm the year before. Roschier colleague and former managing partner Lennart Simonsen became CEO at Finnish private equity house CapMan plc; and Merilampi’s leading light, Ari Kantor, was appointed Justice of the Finnish Supreme Court.

Within Real estate and construction, Roschier is a first tier firm,

Despite a bleak period for international real estate deals, Roschier’s experienced practice is hard to beat – ‘best for large, complicated transactions’, say clients. Team leader Mika Alanko is praised for all-round skill in acquisitions, environmental law and fund documentation. Matters include significant asset sales of the office and retail portfolio of ANL Kiinteistöt 1 KY, a property fund managed by Amplion Asset Management.

Within TMT , Roschier is a first tier firm,

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.

Within Tax, Roschier is a first tier firm,

Roschier has responded to the growing trend for specialist M&A tax structures with the promotion of new partner Mika Ohtonen, who focuses on this aspect and leads the firm’s tax practice. Clients include international investment banks and securities brokers while recent instructions include advising private equity house CapMan plc on the tax structuring aspect of its acquisition of Esperi Care, a market leader in the care sector in Finland. Advice is ‘to the point’ with thorough analysis.