Merilampi Attorneys Ltd > Helsinki, Finland > Firm Profile
Merilampi Attorneys Ltd Offices
KESKUSKATU 7
00100 HELSINKI
Finland
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Merilampi Attorneys Ltd > The Legal 500 Rankings
Finland > Employment Tier 2
Experienced in assisting company management with company reorganisations and transfers of business, Merilampi Attorneys Ltd‘s employment team also acts in a wide range of employment disputes. Department head Heidi Savolainen acts for domestic and multinational corporations on internal negotiations and represents clients in contentious work; while Jussi Koivu is experienced in cross-border transactions and the related employment issues.Practice head(s):
Heidi Savolainen
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Collaboration with Merilampi Attorneys has always been smooth and very professional. They are easily reachable, very customer centric and the team has deep expertise in their respective legal fields. It is true pleasure to work with the professionals who are always effective, fast and willing to find the best solution no matter if the issue is big or small.’
‘Jussi Koivu is an experienced professional with an extremely effective and fast way of working. He is pragmatic with good communication skills. Jussi always provides a clear option and takes time to discuss different scenarios and options to find the best solution. He has a problem solving attitude and he is easy to work with. It is a pleasure to collaborate with Jussi and the skilled Merilampi team.’
Key clients
Microsoft
Canon Oy
Citibank International plc subsidiary in Finland
Aviator Airport Services Finland Oy
Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken (SEB)
Saether Oy
Work highlights
- Successfully represented a client in the Supreme Court in a case related to employer’s rights and obligations when choosing the employment contracts that shall be terminated in reorganisation situations.
- Assisting Microsoft HR management on a regular basis with all possible employment related issues.
Finland > Real estate and construction Tier 2
Recognised for its expertise in transactions involving office, retail, logistics, hotel, residential and various public sector properties, Merilampi Attorneys Ltd is also active in development projects including the construction and finance elements. The group frequently receives mandates from insurance companies, real estate funds, real estate investors, construction businesses and development companies. Tommi Elo focuses on real estate transactions, while William Sjöberg advises on property acquisitions and sales, developments, and sale and lease back arrangements, and construction team head Annika Luhtanen handles housing issues.Practice head(s):
Tommi Elo; William Sjöberg; Annika Luhtanen
Testimonials
‘Merilampi is always able to provide an efficient and functioning team to any type of assignment. The quality of the work is excellent despite time limitations.’
‘Tommi Elo and William Sjöberg are pragmatic and very hands-on, and they are skilled in prioritising tasks in order to achieve the best overall result. Strong commitment throughout the process from preparations to post-closing actions.’
‘William Sjöberg provides excellent client management and result driven legal services. Tommi Elo is a result driven professional, aiming to just get the best results for clients.’
‘Merilampi provides good legal services for most real estate and construction related matters. Especially in real estate transactions they have good track record, and they are capable for handling the full package of legal services needed for real estate transactions.’
‘William Sjöberg is maybe the most detail oriented lawyer I’ve worked with.’
Key clients
YIT Construction Ltd
Skanska
Hartela
Keva
Elo Mutual Pension Insurance Company
Ilmarinen Mutual Pension Insurance Company
Union Investment Real Estate GMBH
Nyfosa Finland Oy
Schroder Nordic Real Estate Fund
Citycon
abrdn
Niam
Sweco Group
Ylva
Avara
Pirkanmaa Hospital District
OP Real Estate Asset Management Ltd
City of Vantaa, VTK Kiinteistöt Ltd
Are Ltd
Senate Properties
Work highlights
- Advised Hartela and Ilmarinen on the sale of the Ristikko shopping centre to Evli.
- Advised eQ Community Properties Fund on its agreements in relation to a significant care property project.
- Advised the City of Espoo on the sale and leaseback of three fire station properties.
Finland > Banking and finance Tier 3
Merilampi Attorneys Ltd‘s banking and finance team is particularly strong in real estate transactions and has a strong emphasis on regulatory advice. Team head Tommi Elo focuses on banking and finance as well as securities transactions and has been involved in domestic and cross-border financings; additionally, he has provided advice on insider issues and various licensing and other regulatory processes related to financial markets. Ari Keinänen specialises in corporate and real estate transactions.Practice head(s):
Tommi Elo
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Tommi Elo and his team at Merilampi delivers pragmatic and to the point advice, taking into account both local law and the knowledge of the industry and local market practice as well as the knowledge of our organisation and products that they have acquired over the years.’
‘Tommi Elo is a trusted adviser on banking, financial and commercial matters.’
Key clients
Citibank
Nordea Bank
Aberdeen Property Funds
Schroder Property Funds
Suominen Corporation
Posti Corporation
Kesko Corporation
Koskisen
Finland > Dispute resolution Tier 3
Merilampi Attorneys Ltd handles a range of matters from commercial litigation, arbitration and alternative dispute resolution to white-collar defense work and insolvency litigation. The practice group is jointly led by Jussi Ikonen, who has extensive experience in shareholder agreements, liability issues, employment disputes and white-collar crime related matters; and managing partner Heidi Merikalla-Teir, who acts as an arbitrator and mediator. Annika Luhtanen arrived from Lexia Attorneys Ltd in August 2023, while Teemu Taxell departed to Merilampi Attorneys Ltd in February 2023.Practice head(s):
Jussi Ikonen; Heidi Merikalla-Teir
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Elisa Corporation
Lassila & Tikanoja Plc
Skanska Oy
Fujitsu Finland
Saxdor Yachts Oy
Finansiel Stabilitet SOV
Helsinki Region Environmental Services Authority HSY
FLSmidth A/S
Polar Electro Oy
Seven Q Global DWC-LLC
Work highlights
- Representing the sellers in a multimillion international post-M&A arbitration case.
- Represented a major Finnish energy company in an international arbitration case against its general liability insurer.
Finland > EU and competition Tier 3
Merilampi Attorneys Ltd frequently assists international and domestic companies with a broad range of competition matters, including merger control, cartel and abuse of dominant position mandates, and public procurement work. Team head Erkko Ruohoniemi specialises in merger control notifications to the Finnish and EU Competition Authorities, cases of abuse of dominant position and cartels, as well as public procurement work; he also regularly represents major telecoms and energy companies in regulatory issues. Satu-Anneli Kauranen departed to DLA Piper Finland Attorneys Ltd in April 2023.Practice head(s):
Erkko Ruohoniemi
Testimonials
‘Merilampi Attorneys, namely Erkko Ruohoniemi and his team, has a very strong understanding on the quite complex operational environment of the Finnish distribution system operators and the regulatory model set by the National Regulatory Authority.’
‘Service attitude is great. Seeing the big picture is a strength they have.’
‘All the team members in the EU and competition practice are very service minded, persistent and definitely very professional. The team works seamlessly together, and the responsible partner is always on top of the things. One of the biggest strengths of the team is the fast response times and ability to take control of things quickly.’
‘The whole team is easily approachable and easy to work with. The team is able to think about the best interests of the client from different perspectives. The team also genuinely listens to the customer and they have excellent knowledge of competition law.’
Key clients
Pihlajalinna Corporation
Skanska Ltd
Posti Group Corporation
Elisa Corporation
Sweco AB/Sweco Finland Ltd
Finncont group
Transbox Ltd
Suominen Corporation
FinnHEMS Ltd
Savonlinja Group
Skoda Transtech
Isku Interior Ltd
Securitas Ltd
Finland > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 4
Merilampi Attorneys Ltd is experienced in corporate and M&A transactions encompassing a variety of sectors and involving domestic and international clients. Practice head Antti Kahri specialises in domestic and international M&A and private equity transactions, while Olli Nikitin is an expert in corporate law. In November 2022, William Sjöberg joined the partnership, while Jani Ylä-Autio departed to Valu Partners Attorneys at Law in March 2023.Practice head(s):
Antti Kahri
Other key lawyers:
Ari Keinänen; Veli Siitonen; Olli Nikitin; William Sjöberg
Testimonials
‘Olli Nikitin is experienced and knows our company history and business very well.’
‘All team members are very service minded, persistent and definitely very professional. The team is working seamlessly together, and the responsible partner is always on top of the things. One of the biggest strengths of the team is their ability to take control of things quickly.’
‘Ari Keinänen, Veli Siitonen, Olli Nikitin and the whole team is easily approachable and easy to work with. They all act in the best interests of the client. They have excellent knowledge of commercial, corporate and M&A matters.’
‘Olli Nikitin’s knowledge of the company and business makes the cooperation smooth and efficient.’
Key clients
Škoda Transportation Group
Pihlajalinna Plc
Suominen Corporation
Atlantic Bridge
Elisa Corporation
Posti Corporation
Neste Corporation
Kesko Corporation
Fortum Corporation
Sweco AB
Total Specific Solutions
Epredia Inc.
Koskisen Group
Asfalttikallio Oy
Nightingale Health Plc
Finland > Intellectual property Tier 4
Merilampi Attorneys Ltd assists clients across a broad range of services in IP including advising on marketing law and providing regulatory advice. The team also leverages the firm’s strength in dispute resolution to act in IP litigation. Mika Pakarinen is an expert in entertainment, media and marketing law and specialises in domestic and international M&A and contentious work. Former practice head Henrik af Ursin left the firm in November 2023 to HPP Attorneys.Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘High level of expertise in IP.’
‘Expert in IP and notably in trade mark and patent litigation.’
‘Proactive team, customer focus.’
‘Helpful, skillful, experienced, quick, easy to work with.’
Key clients
Burberry
DS Smith
Daniel Wellington
Swedish Tourism Association
Pihlajalinna
Suominen
The Finnish National Rescue Association
STERIS Finn-Aqua
Fizza Oy
Fenix Outdoor
Betolar
The Centre for Occupational Safety
Neural DSP Technologies Oy
Work highlights
- Advising Neural DSP Technologies Oy on protecting its IP by creating a trade mark policy, registering the company’s essential trade marks in 15+ jurisdictions globally.
- Advising a Finnish electronics company on all of its intellectual property matters, from strategic decisions to hands-on anti-counterfeiting and registration work in 10+ jurisdictions.
Finland > Tax
Merilampi Attorneys Ltd > Firm Profile
The firm: Merilampi is one of the leading Finnish business law firms. Merilampi is particularly known for work in mergers and acquisitions and dispute resolution, but the services also cover the entire spectrum of demanding business law, ranging from competition and EU law, employment and labour law, real estate and construction law to assignments related to technology and intellectual property. Many of its clients are major international corporations and listed Finnish companies. The firm is regularly involved in high-profile M&A, real estate, competition law and dispute resolution cases.
Main areas of practice
Transactions and finance: In M&A, the firm represented, among others (1) Pihlajalinna Plc in a Mehiläinen Yhtiöt Oy public cash tender offer for all shares in Pihlajalinna Plc (transaction value approximately MEUR 362), (2) Sweco Finland Oy in its acquisition of Optiplan Oy from NCC Group, (3) Posti Group Corporation in its sale of Posti Kotipalvelut Oy to Stella Care Oy and (4) Total Specific Solutions in its acquisition of Futunio Oy.
A great deal of the banking and finance work undertaken by the firm was made in relation to real estate market, including both property acquisition financing and refinancing transactions. Clients in that sector included, among others, Mercada and Aberdeen Standard Real Estate Funds. During the year, the firm also experienced increase in demand for regulatory advice especially by foreign financial institutions operating in the Finnish market.
During the past year, Merilampi completed a substantial number of real estate transactions. Among others, the firm advised the following clients in their major transactions: Aberdeen, Barings Real Estate Advisers GmbH, Elo Mutual Pension Insurance, Nordea Life Assurance and Schroders Real Estate Funds.
Dispute resolution: In the field of dispute resolution, Merilampi has top assignments from all relevant areas: commercial litigation, arbitration (both domestic and international), ADR, white-collar defence and insolvency related advice. The firm’s lawyers are constantly active in a number of arbitration and mediation cases, both as counsel and arbitrators/mediators.
Merilampi continues to represent clients in a wide variety of industries and areas of substantive law. Lately, there has been a notable increase especially in the firm’s caseload in complex construction and engineering disputes. The firm’s lawyers have recently been very active also in different types of liability cases (such as product liability, environmental liability, board of directors’ or auditor’s liability).
During the past year, the DR team has advised, among others, Fujitsu Finland Oy in its complex contract dispute with the City of Espoo. The team also regularly represents Lassila & Tikanoja plc in controversial matters with their subcontractors, employees and other stakeholders. They also represent one of the big-four auditing companies in many of its high-profile liability cases.
Competition and EU: The firm’s competition experts have recently been busy with merger proceedings before the competition authorities. For example, Merilampi represented Pihlajalinna Plc in the merger control proceedings before the Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority and the Market Court in Mehiläinen Yhtiöt Oy/Pihlajalinna Plc case. Merilampi has also continuously advised Sweco AB and its subsidiaries in various competition matters relating to Sweco’s acquisitions taking place in markets for sustainable development and design.
In addition, the firm regularly represents high profile companies in public procurement cases as well as cases related to abuse of dominant position as well as distribution systems and e-commerce. Another example of Merilampi’s versatile competition expertise is the successful representation of telecom company Elisa Corporation in yet another access pricing case against the Finnish telecom regulator Traficom in the Supreme Administrative Court.
Real estate and construction: Merilampi’s real estate and construction practice is one of the advisors in the forefront of advising in the most prominent real estate developments and construction endeavours in the market. The expertise of the team is utilised by private and public sector property owners, developers, contractors, financiers and consultants in a variety of assignments, both contentious and non-contentious, in the construction and real estate field.
The team has a steady flow of mandates particularly concerning complex infrastructure and engineering projects, and a strong specialisation in design and build and construction management contracts. During the past year, some of the most notable references include advising YIT Finland and Meridiam SAS in their successful bid for the first social infrastructure PPP in Finland, assisting several hospital districts and social and health care authorities in the largest hospital build projects in Finland, and several litigation and arbitration proceedings relating to construction and engineering endeavours.
Employment and labour law: Merilampi’s employment team is one of the most experienced in the industry. They are involved in building new and restructuring old organisations, creating and amending working rules and contracts of employment as well as supporting company management with employment related questions and challenging situations. They represent clients in civil and criminal cases relating to employment and assist in cooperation negotiations.
During the past year, the team has advised, among others, Microsoft on a regular basis in both national and global HR-issues, University of Helsinki on several significant court cases and Posti Ltd in the Supreme Administrative Court related to decisions of the Administrative Court and the Regional State Administrative Agency.
IT, technology and media: Our team has extensive experience in assisting clients in transformative situations that affect their entire operations, such as mergers and acquisitions. Our team’s desire and ability to learn about our clients’ operations enables us to provide the best service in ongoing operational contracts and disputes.
Intellectual property: Our team assists a diverse range of companies in finding solutions that support their operations. Depending on the client’s situation, our support may involve identifying rights, commercialization, or licensing. We also frequently assist in resolving disputes arising from intellectual property issues, unfortunately common in business contexts.
Product compliance and product liability: Merilampi’s product compliance and product liability practice advises companies manufacturing, importing and distributing products in a wide variety of issues and obligations stemming from EU’s and national legislation. Recently the team has been particularly busy with appeal proceedings before the relevant authorities as well as court proceedings in product safety matters, in which Merilampi team represented, for example, known international luxury accessory manufacturers as well as vehicle manufacturers. The team also regularly assist clients in product recalls.
Tax: Merilampi’s tax team has more than four decades of experience and diverse expertise in different areas of tax law. During 2022 and 2023, Merilampi has assisted its corporate clients relating to M&A related tax assignments such as structuring, due diligence projects and also advised in VAT and transfer pricing related issues. In addition to serving corporate clients, Merilampi has advised private persons in personal tax audit processes and preparing their wills from the optimal tax point of view and assisted in tax controversy projects.
Main Contacts
Department | Name | Telephone | |
---|---|---|---|
Heidi Merikalla-Teir | heidi.merikalla-teir@merilampi.com | +358 40 750 6106 | |
Jussi Ikonen | jussi.ikonen@merilampi.com | +358 40 097 8281 |
Lawyer Profiles
Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
---|---|---|---|
Sakari Aalto | Sakari Aalto advises domestic and international clients in technology and IPR-transactions. He… | View Profile | |
Tommi Elo | Tommi Elo focuses on banking and finance, real estate and securities transactions… | View Profile | |
Jussi Ikonen | Jussi Ikonen has vast experience in the legal field. Jussi specialises in… | View Profile | |
Tiina Järvinen | Tiina Järvinen specialises in commercial litigation and arbitration. She has acted as… | View Profile | |
Antti Kahri | Antti Kahri specialises in domestic and international mergers and acquisitions and private… | View Profile | |
Antti Karanko | Antti Karanko specialises in arbitration, commercial litigation and mediation. Antti has successfully… | View Profile | |
Ari Keinänen | Ari Keinänen is one of our most experienced attorneys specialised in corporate… | View Profile | |
Jussi Koivu | Jussi Koivu is an expert in employment and labour law. He has… | View Profile | |
Tetti Kunnas | Tetti Kunnas advises clients on matters related to innovation and high tech… | View Profile | |
Jukka Laitasalo | Jukka Laitasalo is one of the founding partners of our 1992 establised… | View Profile | |
Annika Luhtanen | Annika Luhtanen has years of experience as a legal advisor to clients… | View Profile | |
Heidi Merikalla-Teir | Heidi is the Managing Partner of Merilampi. Heidi has extensive experience in… | View Profile | |
Olli Nikitin | Olli Nikitin assists our clients in corporate law and M&A and real… | View Profile | |
Mika Pakarinen | Mika Pakarinen specialises in domestic and international mergers and acquisitions and in… | View Profile | |
Erkko Ruohoniemi | Erkko Ruohoniemi specialises in competition law related cases, such as merger control… | View Profile | |
Heidi Savolainen (née Hiltunen) | Heidi Savolainen (née Hiltunen) specialises in employment law. She counsels domestic and… | View Profile | |
Veli Siitonen | Veli Siitonen is specialised in company and securities law as well as… | View Profile | |
William Sjöberg | William Sjöberg provides advice to our domestic and international clients across various… | View Profile | |
Sami Tuominen | Sami Tuominen assists both domestic and international clients in tax related matters.… | View Profile |