Bird & Bird > Helsinki, Finland > Firm Profile
Bird & Bird Offices
MANNERHEIMINTIE 8
00100 HELSINKI
Finland
Bird & Bird > The Legal 500 Rankings
Finland > Banking and finance Tier 2
Bird & Bird has notable strength in acquisition, real estate and venture capital financing mandates, mezzanine financings and regulatory mandates. The team provides advice to lenders, borrowers and bank management, while benefitting from the firm's wider international network of offices, working closely with counterparts in Helsinki, Stockholm and London. Jori Taipale is the head of the Nordic region team and a member of the firm's international banking and finance group, and often leads on cross-border and domestic M&A and finance transactions. Kristiina Lehvilä is the head of the Finnish banking practice and the finance and financial regulation group, and stands out for her work advising on domestic and international finance transactions.Practice head(s):
Kristiina Lehvilä; Jori Taipale
Key clients
Elisa Oyj
TactoTek Oy
Toivo Group Oyj
Lehto Group Oyj
Brunswick Real Estate AB and Nyfosa AB
Work highlights
- Advised Elisa Oyj on its €130m sustainability linked revolving credit facility loan agreement.
- Advised Brunswick Real Estate AB and Nyfosa AB on the entry into a €115.2m syndicated financing advanced by Nordea Bank Abp to be used in connection with the acquisition of a portfolio of over 40 real estate properties in Finland.
- Advised Lehto Oyj on its €13m convertible loan agreement and intercreditor agreement.
Finland > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 2
Bird & Bird advises on all forms of mandates from corporate finance and private and public M&A, to private equity mandates, IPOs and joint ventures as well as providing corporate governance advice. The firm is well regarded for transactional mandates, while also offering specialist regulatory knowledge. Maria Carlsson is the head of the Finnish corporate and M&A practice group; she focuses on cross-border private M&A and joint ventures. Mikko Ahonen has strong expertise in private equity issues, where he advises Finnish and international private equity investors and corporates on domestic and cross-border transactions. Matti Kuokkanen is the key name to note at associate level.Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Mikko Ahonen; Matti Kuokkanen; Kimmo Reina
Testimonials
‘Good knowledge about us, understanding the transaction nature.’
‘Bird & Bird Finland has great, hands-on, no-nonsense advice in M&A and corporate.’
‘Maria Carlsson. She understands the company’s situation well and proposed well-customised solutions.’
‘Kimmo Reina especially develops deep understanding on the client’s business and is able to recommend best practises and easy-to-adopt processes in transactions. His advice is practical, high quality and he is fast in his responses. I especially appreciate his way of giving concise advice, he gives value to every minute.’
‘Speed, innovative, good social skills.’
Key clients
Ericsson
Cyient Corporation
Mitsubishi Corporation
Prime Minister’s Office (VNK)
Fortum
Olvi
Ministry of Traffic and Communications (LVM)
Edita Group
Eezy Group
Pinja Group
Basware
Sponsor Capital
Razer Group
Bocap Finance
Holiday Club Resorts
Enersense International
Eficode
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
F-Secure
Work highlights
- Advised Finnish media powerhouse Nordic Morning Group Oyj on selling all the shares in Nordic Morning Finland Oy and Nordic Morning Group Sweden Ab (incl. subsidiaries) forming the Nordic Morning and Mods business areas of the seller’s group through a structured auction.
- Advising Cyient Corporation on a major acquisition of a global engineering consultancy group with its head office in Finland.
- Advised the Finnish Ministry of Transport and Communications on drafting and negotiating a major nine-year contract for purchasing passenger rail transport services across Finland from VR Group Ltd.
Finland > Dispute resolution Tier 2
Bird & Bird fields a specialist team dedicated to dispute resolution, focusing on high-value arbitrations, trade secret disputes and white-collar crime cases. Tom Vapaavuori heads up the Helsinki office and works on a broad range of commercial litigation, arbitration and white-collar crime proceedings. Mikko Rajala acts as legal adviser to clients in dispute resolution and pre-dispute management matters in the real estate, leasing, construction and intellectual property arenas.Practice head(s):
Tom Vapaavuori; Mikko Rajala
Finland > Employment Tier 2
Bird & Bird has a full-service employment offering, handling a comprehensive range of contentious and non-contentious employment mandates including business immigration issues, employee incentives and benefits matters, collective negotiations, covenant issues, confidentiality matters, discrimination claims and executive terminations. Maisa Nikkola focuses on all aspects of employment relations, with notable experience in a broad range of mandates including the employment elements of transactions and the negotiation and termination of contracts. Teea Kemppinen is also a key contact in the practice and jointly leads the group with Nikkola.Practice head(s):
Maisa Nikkola; Teea Kemppinen
Other key lawyers:
Markus Majer
Testimonials
‘Very good people, good project management.’
‘Markus Majer and Maisa Nikkola- they are very good.’
‘I’ve been very happy for the service. The service is good and the people are nice.’
‘It has been very good and helpful that our main contact knows/understands the collective agreement we need to apply.’
Key clients
Eezy Oyj and Eezy Flow Oy
Sponsor Fund V Ky
Enerity Solutions Oy
Nordic Morning Group Oyj
Sponsor Fund V
Enersense International Oyj
Cyient Limited
Work highlights
- Advised Eezy Oyj on purchasing 100% of the shares in Leidenschaft Oy and The Siqnificant Company Oy.
- Advised a fund (Sponsor Fund V Ky) controlled by Sponsor Capital in a transaction whereby it acquired the business assets pertaining to the building materials business from Vantaan Kiinnike ja Rak Oy.
- Advised the shareholders of Finnish based Enerity Solutions Ltd as sellers on the sale of all shares of the company to Finnish listed company Solteq Plc.
Finland > TMT Tier 2
Bird & Bird‘s Helsinki office forms part of an integrated network of international offices, which the group utilises to handles a range of global mandates. The group acts for a range of domestic and international clients including multi-national software vendors, IT service providers as well as telecom operators and service providers, and has recently seen an increase in data protection matters. Sakari Halonen is co-head of the Nordic tech and comms group at the firm, and has in-depth knowledge of the various aspects of IT outsourcings, while Riku Rauhanen is a name to watch for complex privacy and commercial law issues. Pia Ek joined the practice from Castrén & Snellman in 2024.Practice head(s):
Sakari Halonen
Other key lawyers:
Tobias Bräutigam; Teemu Lahdelma; Riku Rauhanen; Pia Ek
Testimonials
‘I have had the pleasure to work with variety of experts from Bird & Bird. They have always showed exemplary customer oriented, problem solving approach to the topics being covered also providing their views on additional topics when requested.’
‘I have had the pleasure to work with Sakari Halonen who has a unique ability to work with both the direct customer and the team on the other side of the table. Sakari has deep knowledge about legal and commercial topics when it comes to large scale IT contract negotiations. His way of working and willingness to find a resolution which will be suitable for all parties has been highly acknowledged by all parties at the negotiation table.’
‘Exceptionally positive work environment that leads to positive work attitude for associates and partners. Innovative thinking and ambition to find solutions.’
‘Readiness and availability as well as innovative thinking. Privacy practice in Finland delivers exceptional results.’
‘I think that the team has extensive industry experience and is able to reflect on questions on a wider scale and scope which allows focusing on key questions more effectively.’
‘They are very fast and quick to answer and act; and are able to combine theoretical reasoning with real-life experience and insight. Sakari Halonen to name especially.’
‘High availability, high competence, pragmatic.’
Key clients
Capgemini Group
Cerner Corporation (Cerner Ireland Limited)
DXC (DXC Technology Finland Oy)
Eezy Plc
Edita Prima Oy
Profit Software Oy
HPE (Hewlett-Packard Oy)
Microsoft
Sanoma
Nokia
Work highlights
- Continuing to act as the external general counsel for Capgemini Group in respect of its businesses and dealings in Finland as well as other issues ranging from IT outsourcing transactions to various matters involving privacy advice, including advice on data retention and negotiation of various data processing agreements.
- Supported the Finnish postal service in a matter involving transparency of processing.
Finland > EU and competition Tier 3
Bird & Bird fields a strong practice in competition law, which advises on all aspects of EU and national competition law including merger control issues, cartels and anti-trust investigations, public procurement matters, competitive neutrality issues and state aid work. Katia Duncker is the head of the competition and EU practice group and assists a broad range of international and domestic clients. Jori Taipale is active in cross-border mandates and the competition elements of transactional work.Practice head(s):
Katia Duncker
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘I think that the team offers a good combination of legal expertise and knowledge with easy-to-approach attitude and mentality.’
‘Having a down-to-earth attitude while conveying impeccable legal expertise.’
‘High level expertise and dedication.’
Key clients
MTV Oy
Lähitaksi Oy
Work highlights
- Advising Finnish media group MTV Oy on competition law related aspects.
- Advising Lähitaksi Oy on competition law related matters.
Finland > Intellectual property Tier 3
Bird & Bird has multi-jurisdictional IP expertise in trade mark prosecutions and also excels in cross-border IP investigations, unfair business practice disputes, trade mark issues and transactional IP work. The firm’s client base includes technical wholesalers and distributors, beverage conglomerates and personal protective equipment companies. Henri Kaikkonen is head of the IP practice, and has longstanding experience in contentious IP matters including patent, trade mark and unfair business practice disputes. Mikko Nurmisto stands out for his advice to clients on a broad range of IP matters including copyright, trade mark and marketing law issues.Practice head(s):
Henri Kaikkonen
Other key lawyers:
Mikko Nurmisto; Anna Kallio
Testimonials
‘The team is small but they provide the asked-for service quickly, in time and very efficiently. They have a no-nonsense approach. The quality is high. In addition to this, they can offer the firm’s international reach which is a huge benefit in global IP work. I like this approach very much and it makes the team an easy partner for business.’
‘Partner Henri Kaikkonen and Counsel Mikko Nurmisto both have very in-depth knowledge in the field of trade marks, but also in the other fields of IP. I have worked with them especially in the area of trade marks. My experience is that they deliver what is expected, in budget and in time. They are easy to work with and I like their professional and straight forward style. Not all practitioners can provide everything in one package.’
Key clients
Metso Outotec
Discovery
Tempur Sealy International
Monster Energy
Glaston Corporation
Finnish Red Cross Blood Service
Isojoen Konehalli (IKH)
Adola (dba Täyskuitu)
Swappie
Sulapac
Work highlights
- Defending Adola in an alleged unfair business practice case before the Market Court.
- Advising Glaston Corporation on its patent infringement investigations and related enforcement measures.
- Advising Isojoen Konehalli (IKH) on its trade mark portfolio management and the related prosecution, maintenance and enforcement measures.
Finland > Real estate and construction Tier 3
Bird & Bird‘s real estate and infrastructure group has expertise in real estate transactions, construction issues and development projects. The group is also active in advising real estate funds and handling investment issues, real estate finance mandates, landlord and tenant matters, environmental and sustainability issues and real estate insolvencies. Jaakko Hietala leads the group in Helsinki and takes a strategic approach to complex real estate and infrastructure projects, corporate transactions and dispute resolution matters. Laura Huomo works with energy companies, municipalities, municipality owned companies and governments with notable expertise in energy mandates.Practice head(s):
Jaakko Hietala; Laura Huomo
Other key lawyers:
Tuukka Korhonen
Key clients
NREP
City of Oulu
City of Jyväskylä
Slättö Förvaltning AB
Real estate funds managed by Elite Alfred Berg
Trevian Asset Management
Pelican Self Storage
St1 Nordic Oy
Tampereen Sähkölaitos Oy
Enersense International Oyj
Hycamite TDC Technologies Oy
Work highlights
- Advised City of Oulu on the sale of a major public-use healthcare portfolio to eQ Community Properties Fund.
- Advised City of Jyväskylä on the sale of a major public-use educational and rescue portfolio to eQ Community Properties Fund.
- Advised Slättö Förvaltning AB on purchasing a large retail and warehouse building property.
Finland > Tax Tier 3
Bird & Bird's tax practice is led by counsel Ville Alahuhta, who is singled out for his advice on M&A transactions and private equity funds. The experienced team has extensive knowledge of all areas of tax and counts domestic and international companies, private equity funds, individuals, families, and non-profit organisations on its notable client roster.Practice head(s):
Ville Alahuhta
Testimonials
‘Easily approachable, experienced.’
‘Experienced individuals and pragmatic advice.’
Key clients
EAB Private Equity
Cambri Group
NordTreat AS
Asuntosalkku Plc
Legendary Capital Oy
Romanoff Group Oy
Trind Ventures Oü and several other sellers
Administer Plc
Toivo Group Plc
Sponsor Fund IV Ky
Shareholders in Oy Frank Students Ab
Work highlights
- Advised Asuntosalkku Plc on its listing to First North market place, as well as its pre-IPO group restructuring.
- Advised Cambri Group on planning, updating and documenting its transfer pricing model on a group level.
- Assisted a fund managed by Elite Alfred Berg on its significant investment into Proventia Group.
Finland > Capital markets
Bird & Bird > Firm Profile
The firm:Â Bird & Bird is an international law firm, with a long-established reputation for having a rare and invaluable grasp of strategic commercial issues. The firm combines exceptional legal expertise with deep industry knowledge and refreshingly creative thinking, to help clients operating at the forefront of their industries to achieve their commercial goals.
Bird & Bird has over 1,400 lawyers and legal practitioners with broad advisory transactional and contentious capability, with a particular focus on key industry sectors. The firm has an extensive international reach with 32 offices across Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East, offering a seamless, cross-border service between locations and sector and practice groups.
The Helsinki office combines a firmly established full-service local practice with first-class cross-border capabilities and reach enabled by the firm’s international offices.
The firm serves both Finnish and international corporate clients in all areas of business law. It takes pride in its deep understanding of the businesses in which its clients operate. This means being fully conversant with current business, market and technical issues in addition to possessing in-depth expertise in the law and regulation of each relevant industry sector.
The Helsinki office is staffed by 121 employees, including 73 lawyers. The office is headed by Managing Partner Mikko Ahonen.
Bird & Bird stands out in the Nordic market as the only truly international firm with a strong presence in the key Nordic jurisdictions of Finland, Denmark and Sweden. Its 176Â lawyers are spread across its three Nordic offices, enabling the firm to mobilise appropriate resources to support its clients on cross-border Nordic matters.
Areas of practice: Underpinned by deep client and industry knowledge, the firm’s key sectors include:
Automotive: advising on all stages of a life cycle of a motor vehicle, from initial design, to sales and distribution, through to disposals.
Aviation, defence and security: advising on asset management and financing, civil aviation matters, including airlines, regulatory and competition issues, and defence, including PPP/PFI and product liability.
Electronics: advising clients operating in or serving the electronics industry, from R&D and component manufacturing, to technology licensing agreements.
Energy and utilities: advising large multinationals, investors, project companies and large energy consumers on electricity generation, energy trading, renewable energy, cleantech and climate change, and upstream oil and gas.
Financial services: advising global clients in the financial services sector, such as global retail and investment banks, investors and hedge funds, on transactions, regulatory issues, commercial contracts and dispute resolution.
Food and beverage: advising on a full range of areas, including branding, labelling, health claims, fair trade and patents on novel foods.
Life sciences and healthcare: advising clients in biotechnology, bioinformatics and pharmaceutical companies on licensing and drug development agreements, R&D collaboration, IP acquisitions and joint ventures.
Media and entertainment: advising clients from across the media spectrum on a wide range of issues, including exploitation across all forms of digital media, such as user-generated content exploitation.
Sports: advising national and international sports governing bodies, event organisers and sponsors on issues including exploitation of commercial rights, brand management, regulatory and disciplinary issues.
Technology and communications: advising on matters ranging from smaller innovative projects to some of the largest, most complex and ground-breaking transactions and disputes of recent years. Its team includes lawyers with a particular focus on communications, devices and components, digital tech and eCommerce, and software and services as well as a number of more specialist industries including data centres, postal and satellites.
Main Contacts
Department | Name | Telephone | |
---|---|---|---|
Banking and Finance | Jori Taipale | jori.taipale@twobirds.com | +358 9 6226 6732 |
Banking and Finance | Kristiina Lehvilä | kristiina.lehvila@twobirds.com | +358 9 6226 6756 |
Capital Markets | Mika Puurunen | mika.puurunen@twobirds.com | +358 9 6226 6755 |
Capital Markets | Laura Huomo | laura.huomo@twobirds.com | +358 9 6226 6215 |
Capital Markets | Kimmo Reina | kimmo.reina@twobirds.com | +358 9 6226 6766 |
Corporate | Mikko Ahonen | mikko.ahonen@twobirds.com | +358 9 6226 6670 |
Corporate | Maria Carlsson | maria.carlsson@twobirds.com | +358 9 6226 6759 |
Corporate | Kimmo Reina | kimmo.reina@twobirds.com | +358 9 6226 6766 |
Corporate | Jori Taipale | jori.taipale@twobirds.com | +358 9 6226 6732 |
Corporate | Iina-Mari Supperi | iina-mari.supperi@twobirds.com | +358 9 6226 6797 |
Commercial | Sakari Halonen | sakari.halonen@towbirds.com | +358 9 6226 6748 |
Data Protection | Tobias Bräutigam | tobias.brautigam@twobirds.com | +358 9 6226 6758 |
Dispute Resolution | Tom Vapaavuori | tom.vapaavuori@twobirds.com | +358 9 6226 6725 |
Dispute Resolution | Mikko Rajala | mikko.rajala@twobirds.com | +358 9 6226 6750 |
Employment | Maisa Nikkola | maisa.nikkola@twobirds.com | +358 9 6226 6730 |
Employment | Teea Kemppinen | teea.kemppinen@twobirds.com | +358 9 6226 6754 |
Energy | Laura Huomo | laura.huomo@twobirds.com | +358 9 6226 6215 |
EU & Competition | Katia Duncker | katia.duncker@twobirds.com | +358 9 6226 6749 |
Insolvency | Mikko Rajala | mikko.rajala@twobirds.com | +358 9 6226 6750 |
Intellectual Property | Henri Kaikkonen | henri.kaikkonen@twobirds.com | +358 9 6226 6214 |
Real Estate | Jaakko Hietala | jaakko.hietala@twobirds.com | +358 9 6226 6731 |
Tax | Ville Alahuhta | ville.alahuhta@twobirds.com | +358 9 6226 6287 |
TMT | Kimmo Reina | kimmo.reina@twobirds.com | +358 9 6226 6766 |
TMT | Sakari Halonen | sakari.halonen@twobirds.com | +358 9 6226 6748 |
Lawyer Profiles
Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
---|---|---|---|
Mr Mikko Ahonen | Mikko Ahonen is the managing partner in Bird & Bird Helsinki office.… | View Profile | |
Mr Ville Alahuhta | Partner Ville Alahuhta is Head of Tax in Helsinki, advising on domestic… | View Profile | |
Mrs Katia Duncker | As a partner in Bird & Bird’s Helsinki office and Head of… | View Profile | |
Mr Sakari Halonen | Sakari Halonen is a partner and co-head of Bird & Bird’s Nordic… | View Profile | |
Mr Jaakko Hietala | Jaakko Hietala is a partner in Bird & Bird’s Helsinki office. He… | View Profile | |
Mrs Laura Huomo | Laura Huomo is a partner in our Real Estate & Infrastructure group… | View Profile | |
Mr Henri Kaikkonen | Henri Kaikkonen is a partner in Bird & Bird’s Helsinki office and… | View Profile | |
Mrs Teea Kemppinen | Teea Kemppinen is a partner in Bird & Bird’s Helsinki office and… | View Profile | |
Mr Matti Kuokkanen | As a senior associate at Bird & Bird in Helsinki, Matti Kuokkanen… | View Profile | |
Mrs Kristiina Lehvilä | As a senior counsel and Head of Bird & Bird’s Banking and… | View Profile | |
Mrs Maisa Nikkola | Maisa Nikkola is a partner in our Helsinki office, where she is… | View Profile | |
Mr Mikko Nurmisto | As a Counsel in Bird& Bird’s Helsinki-based Intellectual Property group, Mikko Nurmisto… | View Profile | |
Mr Mika Puurunen | Mika Puurunen is a partner in Bird & Bird’s Corporate and M&A… | View Profile | |
Mr Mikko Rajala | Mikko Rajala is a partner in Bird & Bird’s Dispute Resolution group… | View Profile | |
Mr Riku Rauhanen | Riku Rauhanen is a Senior Associate in our Commercial and Privacy &… | View Profile | |
Mr Risto Sipilä | As a senior counsel in Bird & Bird’s international Dispute Resolution group… | View Profile | |
Mr Jori Taipale | Jori Taipale is a highly reputed lawyer within corporate mergers and acquisitions,… | View Profile | |
Mr Tom Vapaavuori | Tom Vapaavuori is a partner in Bird & Bird’s Helsinki office and… | View Profile |
Solicitor Profiles
Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
---|---|---|---|
Mrs Maria Carlsson | As Head of Bird & Bird’s Corporate and M&A group in Helsinki,… | View Profile |
Staff Figures
Number of lawyers : 1,400 at this office : 73Languages
English Finnish SwedishOther
Other offices : Abu Dhabi Other offices : Amsterdam Other offices : Beijing Other offices : Bratislava Other offices : Brussels Other offices : Budapest Other offices : Copenhagen Other offices : Dubai Other offices : Dublin Other offices : Dusseldorf Other offices : Frankfurt Other offices : Hamburg Other offices : Hong Kong Other offices : London Other offices : Luxembourg Other offices : Lyon Other offices : Madrid Other offices : Milan Other offices : Munich Other offices : Paris Other offices : Prague Other offices : Rome Other offices : Shanghai Other offices : Singapore Other offices : Stockholm Other offices : Sydney Other offices : The Hague Other offices : WarsawComparative Guides
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