Waselius & Wist > Helsinki, Finland > Firm Profile
Waselius & Wist Offices
ETELÄESPLANADI 24A
00130 HELSINKI
Finland
Waselius & Wist > The Legal 500 Rankings
Finland > Banking and finance Tier 2
Waselius & Wist is well known in the market for advising major cross-border clients in the banking and finance sector on transactions and regulatory issues. The firm benefits from its longstanding client relationships and panel positions with large multinational credit institutions and excels in cross-border mandates. Timo Lehtimäki is the co-head of the banking and finance department and has substantial experience in cross-border transactions, financing transactions, asset-based lending matters and bond issuances. Fellow co-head Maria Lehtimäki focuses on advising financial institutions, investors and corporates on cross-border financings and capital markets transactions, alongside handling regulatory matters, while co-head Olli Kiuru is active in compliance and fintech work. Linda Nyman is noted for her work advising international and domestic clients on financial regulatory issues.Practice head(s):
Timo Lehtimäki; Maria Lehtimäki; Olli Kiuru
Other key lawyers:
Linda Nyman; Ville-Veikko Vanttinen
Testimonials
‘High-end banking and finance team, very commercial and very easy and effective to work with. Waselius & Wist are our go-to legal advisers in Finland for banking and finance. Value for work is exceptional and the quality is outstanding.’
‘Timo Lehtimäki heads up the department and is great running the Finnish side of cross-border transactions together with his team of associates. We have been very impressed and we know that our matters are in safe hands with Timo and his team.’
‘Excellent team, understand the complexities of deal structures, ability to work through solutions. On point understanding of Finnish market, the “go to” team for us. Clear advisers, understand risks, but pragmatic at the same time and will get you to the solution.’
‘Maria Lehtimäki is a leading individual for securitisation in the Finnish market; she’s technically excellent and pragmatic in her approach, assisting clients to a focused solution and very hard working. Highly recommend Maria Lehtimäki and her team. Ville-Veikko Vanttinen in her team is a rising star, absolutely on the ball and technically competent.’
‘Strong banking and regulation expertise, connections and industry engagement.’
‘Easy to discuss, contact and get matters progressed.’
‘The assignment was small but their attitude and professionalism was excellent. I would work with them again. Partner Maria Lehtimäki has a very practical approach to matters.’
Key clients
LocalTapiola Finance
BNP Paribas
Goldman Sachs
Credit Suisse
Nomura
Sixth Street Partners
American Express (Swedish Branch)
Saldo Finance Plc
PYN Fund Management Ltd
Komplett Bank
GCC Capital
Fellow Bank
Banco Santander
JLPS Ireland Limited
Ikano Bank
Work highlights
- Advised LocalTapiola Finance (LähiTapiola Rahoitus Oy) as the originator on the €623m public securitisation of a portfolio of Finnish consumer auto hire purchase contracts.
- Advising the arranger and the original lender on the Finnish law aspects of the financing of the acquisition of HyTest by Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics.
- Advised JLPS Ireland Limited on the Finnish law aspects of the sale and leaseback of one Airbus A350-941 Aircraft with Finnair, and related financing arrangements.
Finland > Capital markets Tier 2
Waselius & Wist has a focus on cross-border transactions, where it acts for leading international companies, and has also seen a notable increase in its regulatory work, advising issuers, managers, underwriters and other parties on regulatory questions regarding securities, derivatives, hybrid instruments, alternative investment funds and mutual funds. Group co-head Maria Lehtimäki focuses on advising financial institutions, investors and corporates on cross-border financings and capital markets transactions, while fellow co-head Timo Lehtimäki primarily focuses on cross-border transactions. Linda Nyman stands out for her work in advising international and Finnish clients on financial regulatory issues and also attracts praise for her anti-money laundering knowledge.Practice head(s):
Maria Lehtimäki; Timo Lehtimäki
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘For me, the go to firm in Finland, they have unrivalled expertise and depth. They collaborate with us on clients well and have always shown dedication to providing the best advice.’
‘Maria Lehtimäki is wonderful in the structured finance field and is a pragmatic lawyer with great client relations.’
‘Linda Nyman is our go-to Finnish structured products lawyer. Excellent market insight, very responsive and exceptional work product.’
‘Excellent service, swift and competent reply.’
‘React very quickly, come back with good solutions and give additional information.’
Key clients
Enersize Oyj
Citibank
AMC Networks Ventures LLC
Otso Gold
LocalTapiola Finance
Barclays Bank plc / Barclays Bank Ireland
The Royal Bank of Canada
BNP Paribas
Société Générale Group and Commerzbank AG
Goldman Sachs International
Bank of America Merrill Lynch
Natixis
Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank
Deutsche Bank AG / DWS
Capital Group Companies
Credit Suisse International
Winance
Work highlights
- Advised LocalTapiola Finance (LähiTapiola Rahoitus Oy) as the originator on the €623m public securitisation of a portfolio of Finnish consumer auto hire purchase contracts.
- Advised AMC Networks Ventures LLC as a major shareholder on the voluntary public cash tender offer by Netflix relating to all shares in Next Games Corporation.
- Advised Enersize Oyj on a fully underwritten rights offering and private placement issuance to certain key investors.
Finland > Tax Tier 2
Waselius & Wist focuses on high-end tax work spanning transaction-related tax issues, structuring matters and tax litigation. The firm regularly advises clients on the tax aspects of corporate reorganisations and restructurings, acquisitions, spin-offs and joint ventures alongside financing arrangement issues. Niklas Thibblin is head of the firm’s tax practice and focuses on corporate tax mandates with cross-border elements.Practice head(s):
Niklas Thibblin
Other key lawyers:
Anna-Emilia Vuorenmaa
Testimonials
‘Perseverance and conscientiousness are hallmarks of this firm.’
‘Niklas Thibblin is the James Bond of tax litigation!’
‘Knowledgeable lawyers, solid experience and great team that is always accessible.’
‘Niklas Thibblin is a first-class tax lawyer, combining technical skills with commercial understanding and great service.’
Key clients
NRC Group Finland
LocalTapiola Finance
T. Rowe Price
Saldo Finance plc
Loomis
Work highlights
- Assisting Saldo Finance with the restructuring and reorganisation of the group in a cross-border transaction (including Luxembourg, Finland, Lithuania and Sweden).
- Assisting several T. Rowe Price funds with the reclaim of withholding taxes.
- Assisting T. Rowe Price Funds SICAV in another matter concerning the reclaim of withholding taxes.
Finland > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 3
Waselius & Wist employs an ‘effective and forthcoming approach that makes deals flow‘ for its client’s domestic and international transactions, including the sale, purchase and financing of companies and businesses, joint ventures, mergers, takeovers, private equity and venture capital transactions, and management buyouts. Christoffer Waselius is the co-head of the M&A team, and handles energy and environmental-related mandate, while fellow co-head Fredrik Lassenius acts for leading technology companies and private equity houses, and he frequently acts for foreign investors on cross-border deals. Jaako Huhtala has over 15 years experience in M&A, corporate and commercial transactions, with additional knowledge of alternative investment fund management operations. Niko Markkanen stands out for his focus on corporate governance issues, advising clients on a range of regulatory matters.Practice head(s):
Christoffer Waselius; Fredrik Lassenius
Other key lawyers:
Jaakko Huhtala; Niko Markkanen
Testimonials
‘They apply an effective and forthcoming approach that makes deals flow.’
‘Christoffer Waselius is a renaissance man and stands out.’
‘Very technical and available. Client and solution driven.’
‘We have worked alongside Christoffer Waselius and his team. Finland as a jurisdiction was totally new to us and to our client. W&W was crucial to our understanding of Finnish law matters.’
Key clients
Visma
Equitix
Eitrium
Caplugs
adesso SE
Neova
Storytel
Loomis AB
Vulcain
(EWQ) Eurosec Oy
Alfa Oil
Essity Group
One.com Group AB
SANQUIN BLOOD SUPPLY FOUNDATION
Otso Corp
Euronext N.V.
Accent Equity 2008 L.P.
NCS Finland Oy
Hanken & SSE
Life Finland
Work highlights
- Advised Equitix on the acquisition of Aurora Infrastructure Oy, a leading platform operating strategic industrial electricity distribution networks in Finland.
- Assisted Visma with the divestment of Visma’s IT consulting business focused on digital transformation to CVC Capital Partners Fund VIII.
- Advised Neova Oy on entering into a joint venture with Lassila & Tikanoja Plc.
Finland > Employment Tier 3
The ‘highly responsive and commercially focused‘ Waselius & Wist works closely with multinational and foreign companies, advising on establishing and developing business in Finland. The firm has been active in representing employers in various employment related litigation, both in the district court and labour court. Jan Waselius is a founding partner and Jouni Kautto specialises in working with corporate clients to assist with redundancies and other changes in the workplace, as well as advising clients on daily HR matters; the pair lead the practice. Counsel Antonina Paasikivi is also a key name to note.
Practice head(s):
Jan Waselius; Jouni Kautto
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Jouni Kautto is quick to deliver, pragmatic and commercially minded.’
‘Highly responsive and commercially focused for employment law matters.’
‘Antonina Paasikivi is an excellent writer, always to the point and able to convince anybody of the arguments presented.’
‘Jouni Kautto is highly knowledgeable on all aspects of employment law and really understands our business and commercial constraints. He is always very responsive and great at managing expectations.’
Key clients
Mars
Royal Canin
Pernod Ricard
Essity
One.com
Otso Gold
Synsam Group
BASF
Ejendals
NCH
Surfactor Finland
Euronext
Saldo Finance
Ejendals
Tektronix
Festo
Fluke
Neova
Work highlights
- Advised Neova on entering into a joint venture with Lassila & Tikanoja Plc and with the integration process and the harmonisation of the terms and conditions for the employees that were transferred to the new company/joint venture.
- Advised Mars and Royal Canin on all employment law matters in Finland.
Finland > EU and competition Tier 3
Waselius & Wist is led by Lotta Pohjanpalo and assists clients with all aspects of EU and national competition law, including horizontal and vertical agreements, abuse of dominance mandates, merger control work, public procurement processes and state aid matters. The firm has seen an increase in public procurement proceedings and litigation before the Market Court and the Supreme Administrative Court. Pohjanpalo advises clients on domestic and cross-border matters and acts as counsel in proceedings before the FCCA, the Market Court and Supreme Administrative Court, while Sami Hartikainen stands out for his knowledge of state aid and legal issues relating to the internal market.Practice head(s):
Lotta Pohjanpalo
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘A competent and high-level team.’
‘Sami Hartikainen is very knowledgeable, dedicated. He does not bring himself to the fore, but focuses on the issue and brings added value to the customer.’
‘Substantial know-how and high professionalism make Lotta Pohjanpalo’s practice unique and valued. I think potential clients want to know that Lotta Pohjanpalo’s strength is lengthy experience and a high probability of success in the Market Court (also other court cases).’
‘Waselius & Wist has a strong and reputable EU and competition team which can tackle any competition law related challenges.’
‘Lotta Pohjanpalo is highly responsive, solution-oriented and a very experienced lawyer with an excellent international network.’
‘Ability to very quickly produce accurate text of a high professional standard.’
‘Good expertise on the EU legal framework. Effective contacts with the relevant Finnish authorities. Ability to produce innovative solutions within the EU legal framework and write them in English.’
Key clients
Loomis AB
Equitix
Pernod Ricard
Essity
CityBike
Ascensia Diabetes Care Finland
Hanken & SSE Executive Education
Royal Canin (part of the Mars companies)
Automatia Pankkiautomaatit
Olympus Finland
Coloplast
Steripolar
Zimmer Biomet
Work highlights
- Successfully represented Ascensia Diabetes Care Finland Oy in public procurement litigation before the Supreme Administrative Court against Roche Diagnostics Oy and the Federation of Municipalities of the Eastern Savonia Hospital District in a legal precedent case.
- Represented Automatia Pankkiautomaatit Oy in proceedings before the Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority regarding the removal of the commitments imposed on Automatia in 2017 with respect to the market for real-time payments.
- Represented Hanken & SSE Executive Education in public procurement litigation before the Finnish Market Court in relation to a €7m procurement of executive education services by the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment.
Finland > Intellectual property Tier 3
Waselius & Wist assists with the protection, enforcement and use of IP rights including trade marks, patents, trade names, domain names, design copyright and trade secrets. The practice is also active in counterfeit cases, and handles IP licenses and franchise agreements. Bernt Juthström is experienced in contentious and non-contentious matters across the IP space, and Åsa Krook is skilled in assisting clients with strategic IP management issues, complex franchisings and licensing and distribution arrangements; the pair jointly lead the department.Practice head(s):
Bernt Juthström; Åsa Krook
Other key lawyers:
Marianna Karjanlahti-Perini
Testimonials
‘The team has a solid comprehension as well as extensive knowledge of the issues at hand.’
‘The firm’s IP practice includes Åsa Krook and Marianna Karjanlahti-Perini, both of whom are very skilled IP practitioners. They always deliver excellent service and advice, and they deliver on time. They are the obvious choice for me whenever I need trade mark related assistance, as well as when other IP related needs in Finland occur.’
‘Åsa Krook and Marianna Karjanlahti-Perini are both superb lawyers, very service-minded, and they are very likeable as well.’
Key clients
Louis Vuitton Malletier
Pernod Ricard
Rivian
Mars
Royal Canin
Life Europe AB and Life Finland Oy
Samsung Electronics Nordic AB
Essity Hygiene Products AB, Oy Essity Finland Ab
Eltel Group Oy
Lune Group Oy Ltd
Peptonic Medical AB
NaturaMed Pharma AB
Oy Rani Plast Ab
See you later! Oy Ab
Work highlights
- Represented NaturaMed Pharma AB in the Finnish Market Court in a matter initiated by the Consumer Ombudsman for alleged violation of the Finnish Consumer Protection Act.
- Handling the Pernod Ricard Group’s trade mark portfolio in Finland and advising the company group on trade mark, marketing, labelling, contractual and regulatory matters and procedures in Finland and in the EU.
- Advising the LIFE chain on franchise, contractual, IP and marketing law related matters in connection with the development of the franchise concept and related transactions.
Finland > TMT Tier 3
Waselius & Wist‘s TMT practice provides advice on a broad range of matters related to data privacy issues and the use of personal data, including regulatory compliance issues, operation model developments, internal investigations and contractual matters. Bernt Juthström has substantial experience in both contentious and non-contentious matters spanning TMT, copyright, trade mark, patent and trade secret mandates. Charlotta Sittnikow advises clients on a range of regulatory and compliance matters relating to the telecoms sector.Practice head(s):
Bernt Juthström
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Pernod Ricard
CCR S.A.
Otso Group
Loomis Ab
Visma
adesso SE
Work highlights
- Providing legal advice to Pernod Ricard Finland in relation to data protection issues and consumer opt-ins.
- Advised Brazil’s premier highway operator CCR S.A. on the sale of its 80% stake in Quicko to MaaS Global Oy and the complex matters relating to GDPR compliance in a transaction process.
- Advised Loomis AB (on the behalf of Automatia Pankkiautomaatit Oy) on the negotiation of long-term service contracts with Automatia’s key customers.
Finland > Dispute resolution Tier 4
Waselius & Wist represents clients in all stages of domestic and international commercial litigation covering contract, employment and environmental claims; the team is also active in arbitration proceedings. Jan Waselius is a founding partner of the firm and leads the team along with Bernt Juthström and Christoffer Waselius. Key clients include traditional and renewable energy companies, PE houses, chemical companies and company board members. Antonina Paasikivi stands out for her experience in representing clients in employment and contract disputes as well as tort liability claims.Practice head(s):
Jan Waselius; Bernt Juthström; Christoffer Waselius
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Jan Waselius is a super senior figure in Finnish law, together with Christoffer Waselius, they are a highly respected team. They also have access to important resources such as senior academics. The direct access to these experienced lawyers was always possible.’
‘Jan Waselius has vast experience and excellent judgement, built on his many years of work as corporate lawyer.’
‘Christoffer Waselius has excellent overview and both share high work ethic standards.’
‘Unmatched dedication to client needs, always in time and budget, understands the cultural challenges of international disputes.’
‘Christoffer Waselius manages like no other to translate international client needs into Finnish litigation culture; always open for unbeaten tracks and out-of-the-box solutions.’
Key clients
Board members of Anttila Oy
Otso Gold
Alfa Oil
Essity Hygiene Products
Armin Schwarz Ice Action
NRC Group Finland
T. Rowe Price
Loomis, Automatia Pankkiautomaatit
Ejendals
NCH Suomi
BASF
Venator Corporation
Work highlights
- Advised the board members of Anttila in criminal proceedings regarding board member’s liability as well as in separate civil proceedings concerning damages claims.
- Advised Armin Schwarz/Ice Action in a case concerning contractual liability which has been pending since 2016.
Waselius & Wist > Firm Profile
Waselius & Wist is a leading Finnish business law firm, committed to provide highly specialised legal services in complex business transactions. The firm is especially renowned for high-end advice within all fields of commercial law, with particular emphasis on capital markets, banking and finance, including financial restructurings, mergers and acquisitions, dispute resolution, real estate, energy and natural resources, tax law, employment law, competition law as well as IPR. The firm takes pride in being able to deliver tailor-made services and solutions with efficiency, accuracy and flexibility, aimed at satisfying the needs of the most demanding clients.
Main Contacts
Department | Name | Telephone | |
---|---|---|---|
Banking and finance, Capital markets, Corporate recovery | Timo Lehtimäki | timo.lehtimaki@ww.fi | +358 (0)9 668 95245 |
Banking and finance, Capital markets | Maria Lehtimäki | maria.lehtimaki@ww.fi | +358 (0)9 668 95235 |
Competition and public procurement, General corporate and business law | Lotta Pohjanpalo | lotta.pohjanpalo@ww.fi | +358 (0)9 668 95253 |
Dispute resolution, TMT, IPR, Corporate governance and compliance | Bernt Juthström | bernt.juthstrom@ww.fi | +358 (0)9 668 95241 |
Dispute resolution, Employment, Corporate governance and compliance | Jan Waselius | jan.waselius@ww.fi | +358 (0)9 668 95234 |
Employment, pensions and incentives, Data protection | Jouni Kautto | jouni.kautto@ww.fi | +358 (0)9 668 95276 |
M&A and private equity, Real estate, Energy and natural resources, Environment | Christoffer Waselius | christoffer.waselius@ww.fi | +358 (0)9 668 95261 |
Tax | Niklas Thibblin | niklas.thibblin@ww.fi | +358 (0)9 668 95277 |
Intellectual Property | Åsa Krook | asa.krook@ww.fi | +358 (0)9 668 95296 |
Financial Regulatory, FinTech | Olli Kiuru | olli.kiuru@ww.fi | +358 (0)9 668 95232 |
Mergers and Acquisitions | Jaakko Huhtala | jaakko.huhtala@ww.fi | +358 (0)9 668 95240 |
Real Estate | Antti Rikala | antti.rikala@ww.fi | +358 (0)9 668 95224 |
Employment | Tomi Korpiola | tomi.korpiola@ww.fi | +358 (0)9 668 95251 |