The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance, Krogerus is a second tier firm,

The ‘overall level of service is excellent’ at Krogerus, which has expertise including acquisition finance, mezzanine finance, export and trade finance, and derivative transactions, among others. The team recently advised Sveafastigheter on obtaining a €100m loan to finance its acquisition of a portfolio of 68 grocery store properties across Finland. The team also advised HKScan on the €250m refinancing of its credit facilities. The department is jointly led by the highly rated Kimmo Mettälä and Päivi Toivari, who is ‘one of Finland’s best financial lawyers’.

Within Capital markets, Krogerus is a second tier firm,

Krogerus ‘delivers very high-quality work’ that is ‘very thorough and shows a great deal of knowledge’. The team recently advised Aldata Solution Oyj on its €43m public tender offer, one of only two such offers in Finland in 2012. Department head Mårten Knuts has ‘extensive knowledge on capital markets law, which is a great asset’. Rami Salonen is also recommended, as is Tom Fagernäs, ‘an impressive up-and-coming senior associate with unparalleled business acumen’.

Within Corporate and M&A, Krogerus is a second tier firm,

Krogerus had an impressive year, acting for clients from a diverse range of industry sectors. The team recently advised Murata Manufacturing on the Finnish aspects of its acquisitions, totalling €195m, in the country. Department head Mika Ståhlberg is ‘one of the top M&A lawyers in Finland’. Samuli Palin and Marcus Möller are also recommended.

Within Dispute resolution, Krogerus is a third tier firm,

The highly respected Juha Pekka Katainen and Mikko Elonheimo lead Krogerus’ team, which recently advised the state of Finland, through its commercial enterprise Metsähallitus, in claims for damages totalling €500m in relation to an illegal raw timber cartel operated by three Finnish forestry companies. Other clients include ABB, Santander, DNA Ltd, Rautaruuki Corporation, and the Special Prosecutor’s Office of Iceland. Mårten Knuts and Raimo Seppälä are also recommended.

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

The highly rated competition lawyers at Krogerus recently advised littala Group Ltd (a Fiskars Group affiliate) in resale price maintenance proceedings before the Finnish Market Court. Katri Joenpolvi and Leena Lindberg jointly lead the team and are well known and highly respected competition practitioners. Counsel Terhi Kauti heads the firm’s public procurement practice, an area in which she has established a significant reputation.

Within Intellectual property, Krogerus is a second tier firm,

Krogerus’ IP department provides ‘extremely quick and timely responses and has in-depth knowledge’. A team led by the ‘responsive and practical’ Tuukka Airaksinen, who is described by one client as ‘one of the best attorneys in Finland’, is representing Rautaruukki Corporation in a multi-jurisdictional trade name and trade mark dispute, including infringement and validity issues. The team is acting as international lead counsel in this €17m dispute.

Within Maritime and transport, Krogerus is a second tier firm,

Krogerus recently acted for Havator Transport to draft a contractual framework for the transportation of nuclear power station steam generators across various European jurisdictions. Counsel Lauri Railas leads on maritime and transport issues.

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

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.

Within TMT, Krogerus is a first tier firm,

Krogerus’ clients appreciate ‘the high quality of negotiation and drafting skills, the extremely quick and timely response times, combined with in-depth knowledge of the industry in question’. The team recently advised Varmu Mutual Pension Insurance Company on a major outsourcing arrangement relating to document management and postal services. Juha-Pekka Katainen is ‘a brilliant negotiator, possessing tactics and skills that one as a client must simply admire and counterparts watch out for’. Practice head Mika Puittinen has ‘in-depth knowledge of IT and related business matters as well as the highest quality drafting skills’. Counsel Kai Erlund is also recommended.

Within Tax, Krogerus is a second tier firm,

Krogerus is advising a private equity firm on a tax audit where transfer pricing issues were brought up by the auditors, as well as assisting several major companies with tax structuring or restructuring. Practice head Antti Lehtimaja is ‘excellent’.