The real estate practice at Castrén & Snellman advises major developers and investors, and has recently put great emphasis on the residential logistics sector and data centres. Its most notable recent work includes advising the real estate developer on a multimillion-dollar construction project of care homes and build-to-rent housing. The team is led by Antti Kaakkola, specialising in investments and transactions, who is closely assisted by Jerker Pitkänen, notable for his skills in construction disputes. The team has grown, strengthened by the arrival of Salla Koskel. Clients note the team’s ‘very business-oriented mindset’.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Accolades
Client satisfaction: Sector knowledge
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘I have worked with Antti Kaakkola for over a decade, and he is one of the most competent lawyers I ever had the pleasure of working with. The documentation is always impeccable.’
- ‘They have a very business-oriented mindset. The partners are very experienced real estate professionals. They recognise what truly matters to the client and know when to let go of less important details.’
- ‘Antti Kaakkola has unrivalled people skills and is apt at solving complex legal matters. Having him on my side in transactions has made my life significantly easier. Our whole team is beyond glad to have started working with him. ’
- ‘C&S is a true full-service law firm, capable of delivering top-tier legal advice across all areas relevant to our business. As a client, I particularly value their ability to promote partners from within—individuals who began their careers at the firm as trainees and have grown into leadership roles.’
- ‘In my experience, Antti Kaakkola stands out distinctly among his peers and among real estate partners at other firms. He combines analytical approach with pragmatic judgment in determining the optimal approach and foundational elements of transaction projects.’
Key clients
- eQ Community Properties Fund
- A. Ahlström Real Estate Ltd
- OP-Public Services Real Estate Fund
- Verne Global
- Swiss Life Asset Managers Nordic AS
- CapMan Nordic Real Estate
- Oomi Solar Oy
- Fortum Oyj
- LähiTapiola Keskustakiinteistöt Ky
Work highlights
Advised a fund managed by Swiss Life Asset Managers Nordic in its acquisition of a logistics property in Hyvinkää from a fund managed by Savills Investment Management.
Assisting Verne Global Ltd, the leading provider of sustainably powered HPC data centres in the Nordics, in developing a data centre in Mäntsälä, Finland.
Advised the real estate investor and developer Nrep in a EUR 100 million construction project in Helsinki, which combines build-to-rent housing and care homes within the one scheme.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Practice head
Antti Kaakkola; Tuomas Lehtinen; Samuli Tarkiainen; Jerker Pitkänen