DLA Piper Finland Attorneys Ltd‘s finance team has a niche in ship financing, regularly advising clients on construction finance and buyer loans. Kristiina Hirva and Mikko Luukkonen jointly oversee the team, which counts international banks and ECAs as clients. Hirva is a regulatory expert who draws on considerable experience in compliance work in the fintech sector. Co-head Lukukkonen is particularly active in representing lenders in the financings of vessel construction and acquisitions.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Accolades
Client satisfaction: Lawyer & team quality
Client satisfaction: Billing & efficiency
Client satisfaction: Sector knowledge
Client satisfaction: NPS ®
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘We are very happy with our partner and her associates. They are reliable and give solid and easy-to-understand advice.’
- ‘We are working with Kristiina Hirva and Satu Saarikoski, and are very pleased with their services.’
- ‘Well-known financing practice in Finland with fantastic sector knowledge in ship financing and outstanding experience.’
- ‘Mikko Luukkonen has extensive experience in financing transactions, in particular in ship financing transactions. Very reliable team with a profound commercial understanding.’
- ‘Skilled team with bank experience. Efficient way of working and communicating.’
- ‘Well available, practical approach.’
- ‘Practical approach, broad understanding of clients' needs.’
Key clients
- Aktia Bank Plc
- Avida Finans AB (publ)
- Entercard Group AB
- Deutsche Bank AG
- Helaba Landesbanken Hessen-Thüringen
- KfW IPEX-Bank GmbH
- Kreate Group Plc
- Mizuho Bank
- Nordiska Kreditmarknadsaktiebolaget (publ)
- Norion Bank AB
- NTR Renewable Energy Income Fund II
- Oma Savings Bank
- Premico Oy
- Teollisuuden Voima Oyj (TVO)
Work highlights
Advised Nordiska Kreditmarknadsaktiebolaget (publ) and its subsidiary, Rocker AB (publ), on the conclusion of a transfer agreement regarding the acquisition of loan portfolios for EUR 120,000,000 from Svenska Handelsbanken AB (publ) and Ecster AB.
Assisted infrastructure specialist Kreate on a new EUR 49 million syndicated financing arrangement signed on 1 July 2025 between Kreate Group Plc, Kreate Oy, Danske Bank and OP Corporate Bank.
Act as counsel for KfW IPEX-Bank, as Arranger, Agent, Original Lender and Security Agent, in relation to a credit facility for Finnish shipping company Langh Ship Oy for the financing of the acquisition of two container vessels from a foreign shipbuilder.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Practice head
Kristiina Hirva; Mikko Luukkonen
Other key lawyers
Satu Saarikoski