Fund Formation & Fund Investments(en) Archives - Castrén & Snellman

Karlo Siirala

The investment management industry is pivotal in channelling economic capital to drive sustainable growth.

When contemplating fund formation and investment decisions in funds, sponsors and LP-investors can count on the market-leading experience of our team, which is one of the largest and most experienced in the Finnish market. We actively optimise processes through the use of AI and advanced legal technology.

Fund formation

We advise private equity sponsors and other market participants in forming and structuring investment funds as well as in complying with their regulatory obligations. Our efficient process guarantees the expeditious formation of funds of all types, along with the required documentation and transactions. We offer you the most up-to-date information and extensive experience in contract practices and terms. Our clients include private equity and venture capital firms, banks, fund management companies, and investment firms.

Fund investments and co-investments

We advise LP-side institutional investors in their domestic and international fund investments and co-investments. We ensure that the terms of the target funds and transaction documents are fair to the investor and in line with customary market practice. We also make sure that the fund investment fulfils the requirements of national regulation and the client’s own investment policy. Our clients include various Finnish and international institutional investors, such as pension funds, asset management firms, insurance companies, foundations, funds of funds, family offices, and listed companies.

Secondary transactions

We advise in both GP-led and non-GP-led secondary transactions of LP interests between institutional investors. We ensure that the terms of the transaction documents are fair, in line with market practice and functioning in sync with the target fund.

High-level support from leading fund law experts

You are supported by a team of leading fund law experts with top-notch expertise in alternative investment funds, private equity and venture capital, tax law, finance, and financial regulation. We create business- and strategy-driven solutions tailored to your individual needs and ensure that your investment activities always conform to the most recent regulations.

We provide a comprehensive set of services and solutions for all matters related to investment funds:

formation and structuring of funds and other asset management arrangements
asset management agreements, fund distribution agreements
advisory to sponsors on the governance, economic and tax structuring, and operation of fund entities
regulatory advisory
restructurings and dissolutions of funds
advisory on ESG matters and sustainable investing
fund investment due diligence reviews for investors
secondary transactions.

Latest references

eQ Community Properties Fund – Sale of two healthcare properties

We assisted eQ Community Properties Fund in the sale of two healthcare properties to a fund managed by Northern Horizon. The properties have a total floor area of approximately 3,500 square meters. The two properties are located in Espoo and Lahti. The Espoo asset was completed in 2018 and the Lahti asset was completed in 2023. Both assets are operated by Attendo, the leading care provider in the Nordic region.

BMW AG – Enforcement of BMW’s trademark and design rights

We successfully represented BMW in an exceptionally long dispute over whether the spare rims sold by the defendant and the hub caps included in them infringed BMW’s trademark and design rights. The Market Court found that the sign used by the defendant caused a likelihood of confusion with BMW’s trademarks. The defendant had used the sign on the hub caps and in the marketing of the hub caps and rims, leading the Market Court to find that the defendant had infringed BMW’s trademark rights. The defendant admitted to infringing BMW’s Community design but denied the related injunction claim. However, the Market Court found that there was no particular reason to refrain from issuing an injunction. The Market Court prohibited the defendant from continuing to infringe BMW’s trademarks and Community design and ordered the defendant to alter or destroy the products and marketing materials that infringed BMW’s rights. Furthermore, the Market Court ordered the defendant to pay BMW EUR 70,000 in reasonable compensation and EUR 80,000 in damages for the trademark infringements, as well as EUR 7,000 in reasonable compensation and EUR 8,000 in damages for the design right infringement. The amounts can be considered exceptionally high in Finland. Additionally, the Market Court ordered the defendant to pay a significant portion of BMW’s legal costs with interest on late payment. In its decision of 11 March 2025, the Supreme Court of Finland did not grant the defendant leave to appeal, and also decided that there was no need to seek a preliminary ruling from the Court of Justice of the European Union. Thus, the Market Court’s judgements (MAO:494/18 ja 517/2023) are final. In addition to the main dispute, BMW demanded in a separate proceeding that one of the defendant’s trademark registrations be revoked. A total of three separate legal proceedings were conducted in the Market Court regarding the revocation. The defendant’s trademark registration was ultimately revoked.

DNA – Global brand portfolio management and IP enforcement

We are advising DNA Plc in brand protection and intellectual property enforcement matters globally. Our intellectual property team manages DNA’s global trademark portfolio, including registration, prosecution, opposition and enforcement. We also advise DNA in questions concerning consumer and marketing law, unfair competition, social media, domain names and cybersquatting. DNA Plc is one of Finland’s leading telecommunication companies. DNA offers connections, services and devices for homes and workplaces, contributing to the digitalisation of society. The company has approximately 3.7 million subscriptions in its fixed and mobile communications networks. In 2024, DNA’s total revenue was EUR 1,100 million, and the company employs about 1,600 people around Finland. DNA is part of Telenor Group.

Foodiq – Restructuring proceedings

Castrén & Snellman’s Attorney Christer Svartström acted as the administrator in the restructuring proceedings of Foodiq Oy, which began on 11 March 2024. Foodiq is a unique future food focused company that develops and produces plant and milk-based products for both the private and public sectors. The company’s largest shareholder is a Swedish investment company focusing on FoodTec, Nicoya AB. The majority of creditors approved the draft restructuring programme in expedited proceedings after restructuring proceedings that lasted just under a year. The District Court of Helsinki affirmed the restructuring programme including the one-day payment programme on 10 March 2025 and appointed Attorney Christer Svartström as the supervisor of the programme. In cooperation with the parties, they found an effective and quick restructuring solution for the company, avoiding a long-term programme and allowing the company to focus on its core business. The restructuring programme was financed by investments made by the company’s investors. At the same time, the one-day programme provided a better outcome for creditors compared to a longer programme. The implementation of the restructuring programme ended successfully on 28 March 2025.

Latest insights

15.5.2025 Latest regulatory developments for renewable energy in Finland

Marius af Schultén

Konsta Peussa

Marius af Schultén & Konsta Peussa

9.4.2025 – Dispute Resolution New European Court of Justice ruling C-537/23 sheds light on the interpretation and validity of asymmetric jurisdiction clauses – Implications for European businesses

Robin Ollus

Tuomas Lehtinen

Robin Ollus & Tuomas Lehtinen

7.4.2025 – Private Equity & Venture Capital Tax credit for major clean transition investments passed in Parliament – application period until 29 August 2025

Janne Juusela

Mikko Alakare

Samuli Tarkiainen

Marius af Schultén

Jarno Tanhuanpää

Kanerva Sunila

Noora Ahonen

Janne Juusela, Mikko Alakare, Samuli Tarkiainen, Marius af Schultén, Jarno Tanhuanpää, Kanerva Sunila & Noora Ahonen

25.3.2025 – Mergers & Acquisitions How to successfully run a large-scale cross-border M&A project?

Carola Lindholm

Samuli Tarkiainen

Carola Lindholm & Samuli Tarkiainen

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