The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance, Merilampi is a third tier firm,

Merilampi acted as Finnish counsel to a German multinational in its €2.5bn syndicated loan arrangement, demonstrating the firm’s capability in this area. In particular, Ari Keinänen gives ‘accurate, practical advice’ and ‘it is evident he is experienced in complex transactions’. The firm’s merger with Veikko Palotie & Co boosted the practice, doubling the number of specialists.

Within Capital markets, Merilampi is a second tier firm,

Merilampi bucked the trend of market conditions, completing several high-level deals such as acting for Neste Oil in its €300m international bond offering and listing on Nasdaq OMX Helsinki. ‘Good negotiator’ Ari Keinänen again takes the limelight at the firm, with strong support from Jukka Laitasalo and Jani Ylä-Autio.

Within Corporate and M&A, Merilampi is a third tier firm,

Merilampi presents an augmented team following the merger with Veikko Palotie & Co, uniting Tauno Palotie and Mika Pakarinen with other strong individuals such as managing partner Jani Ylä-Autio and Merja Blankenstein, who are ‘both realistic problem solvers and always solution-minded’. The firm acted for leading Finnish company Tamfelt in a public exchange offer with Metso Corporation.

Within Dispute resolution , Merilampi is a first tier firm,

In a mixed year for Merilampi, leading litigator Ari Kanto left the firm following appointment as Justice of the Finnish Supreme Court; however, the merger with Veikko Palotie & Co brought fresh resources, particularly construction and real estate dispute expertise, while partner promotions included Jussi Ilkonen, who has a ‘pedagogical mindset and real passion for his work’ and Tapio Väätäinen, valuable ‘when the going gets tough’. A long list of high-profile cases included successfully defending Amer Sports in tobacco damages claims.

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

Merilampi is also highly focused in this area and a regular in landmark cases and big-ticket merger filings. Arttu Mentula heads the practice with Erkko Ruohoniemi in support, recently acting for Fortum in a landmark case before the Supreme Administrative Court concerning its merger with E.ON, the first time a conditional merger decision was overturned by the Courts in Finland. The firm is acting for Skanska in the follow-on asphalt cartel damages cases.

Within Intellectual property, Merilampi is a second tier firm,

Merilampi significantly boosted its practice with the recruitment of Sakari Aalto, former head of TMT at Roschier and Mika Pakarinen joining from merged firm Veikko Palotie & Co. They advise on all aspects of the exploitation of IP rights, acting in a precedent case on behalf of an Estonian company and Finnish parent concerning copyright levies and on-line music.

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 Maritime and transport, Merilampi is a second tier firm,

Merilampi impresses following its merger with Veikko Palotie & Co, uniting the latter’s transport law expertise with Merilampi’s first-class dispute resolution team. Co-heads Jussi Ikonen and Tapio Väätäinen specialise in road and rail, and air transport respectively. The firm acts for an airline and subsidiaries in several arbitration and court proceedings.

Within Real estate and construction, Merilampi is a second tier firm,

Merilampi welcomed the established construction law team of Veikko Palotie & Co following the firms’ merger, resulting in a versatile practice that also includes transaction and dispute specialists led by Teemu Kauttu. The firm acted for Sippoonranta, owned by Skanska and other investors, in a 300-property development project amid much publicity.

Within TMT , Merilampi is a second tier firm,

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.