Data Centres

Data Centres

Finland’s position as a preferred location for large-scale data centres creates significant opportunities for investors and developers. Our team’s comprehensive understanding of the Nordic data centre market, combined with our track record in landmark digital infrastructure projects, positions us as your trusted advisor in realising these opportunities.

Our multi-disciplinary team advises and works alongside leading data centre developers, investors, technology companies and energy providers to deliver successful outcomes in this rapidly expanding sector. We combine deep market knowledge with practical, solution-oriented advice that addresses the unique challenges of digital infrastructure projects while balancing commercial objectives with regulatory requirements.

Data centre projects require sophisticated coordination across multiple legal disciplines. Our integrated full-service approach draws on the firm’s leading expertise in real estate transactions, environmental and energy law, construction and projects, financing, and commercial contracting. This collaborative model ensures seamless service delivery and comprehensive risk management across all project phases.

Our experts guide clients throughout the project lifecycle, from initial site sourcing and land acquisition to environmental permitting, construction, and grid connection and power purchase arrangements. We handle complex regulatory frameworks on behalf of our clients, enabling them to focus on core business objectives while we manage the legal pathway to operational data centres.

We advise on:

  • Site identification, real estate due diligence and land transactions
  • Grid connection processes and power infrastructure agreements
  • Power purchase agreements (PPAs) and renewable energy arrangements
  • Environmental impact assessments and permitting strategies
  • Planning and zoning matters
  • Construction contracts and contractor arrangements
  • Data centre service agreements and customer contracts
  • Project finance, debt facilities and structured financing solutions
  • Joint ventures and partnership structures
  • Regulatory compliance and strategic advice on legislative developments

Latest references

We advised G&W Electric with its acquisition of Safegrid Oy, a leading provider of intelligent grid monitoring solutions based in Finland. The acquisition accelerates G&W Electric’s long-term strategy to integrate intelligent monitoring and predictive analytics into its power distribution portfolio, strengthening its offering to utility customers worldwide. Founded in 1905 and headquartered in Bolingbrook, Illinois, G&W Electric is a global leader in innovative power grid solutions, with a presence in over 100 countries. The company is known for advanced load and fault interrupting switches, reclosers, sensors, system protection equipment, power grid automation, intelligent grid monitoring, and transmission and distribution cable accessories. Safegrid is a Finnish technology company headquartered in Espoo, Finland. The company develops the Intelligent Grid System®, a grid monitoring solution that combines instant-on wireless sensors with advanced analytics to deliver real-time insight into grid conditions, enabling utilities to identify emerging issues, anticipate failures, and reduce outage duration across medium and high voltage distribution and transmission networks.
Case published 8.5.2026
Castrén & Snellman advised Nscale, a European AI infrastructure company, in connection with its planned data centre project in Harjavalta, Finland. The facility will be located in the Sievari industrial area. Castrén & Snellman’s advisory role encompassed the negotiation and execution of a site securing and development agreement (SSDA) with Fortum, as well as the preliminary land sale process for the Sievari site with the Town of Harjavalta. Under the SSDA, Fortum supports the advancement of Nscale’s project development, including grid connection design and permitting.
Case published 15.4.2026
We advised UK-based investment company Downing in its acquisition of the entire share capital of Tornionlaakson Voima Oy. Tornionlaakson Voima owns three hydropower plants in the Tengeliönjoki river system – the Portimokoski power plants in Ylitornio, the Jolmankoski power plants in Raanujärvi and the Kaaranneskoski power plants in Sirkkakoski. The power plants produce a total of approx. 45 gigawatt-hours of electricity per year. Tornionlaakson Voima’s daily operations will continue normally, and the transaction will not affect customers. The consummation of the transaction is subject to the approval of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. Downing has over 35 years’ experience in providing a wide range of investment solutions to the needs of institutional investors, advisers and retail investors. The company manages over £2 billion in assets in both the private and public markets and its current hydro power portfolio includes approx. 50 hydro power plants in the Nordics. 
Case published 27.3.2026
We advised Fingrid Oyj on the Finnish law aspects in the update of a EUR 3 billion Euro Medium Term Note programme (EMTN). Notes issued under the programme may be listed on the Irish Stock Exchange. Fingrid operates Finland’s main electricity transmission grid and all significant cross-border transmission connections. The main grid is the backbone of the electricity transmission network, to which major power plants, industrial plants and regional electricity distribution networks are connected.
Case published 17.3.2026