The EU’s General Data Protection Regulation, GDPR, entered into force on 25 May with the goal of unifying data protection legislation across Europe. It also requires that transparency and the power of the individual be increased in data processing. In Finland, the GDPR doesn’t radically change the basic pillars of data protection legislation, but rather is in line with the Finnish regulations that have been applied for the past 30 years.
Public debate about the new regulation has focused on a few individual questions, and administrative sanctions have taken on an oversized role in the debate. I personally wish that, instead of fixating on fines, the upper management of organisations would stop to think about how to secure data-based business operations in the event the authorities prohibit the use of data or order the deletion of data. Another important thing to ponder would be what the careless processing of data could mean to the reputation of a company. This latter issue is a subject that has gotten a great deal of media attention recently. There is more at play than the bogeyman of huge fines.
My hope is that the GDPR gets professionals from different fields to work together better and that this becomes on new export for the EU. We’ll know if my hopes come true in 2020 when the Commission is set to examine the practical impacts of the new regulations.
It is important for us lawyers to understand the logic underlying data systems as well as business needs and strategy if we are to come up with sustainable solutions for our clients. IT experts in turn need to understand the main principles of the law so that they can make sure that data systems and services comply with regulations.
Corporate management for its part needs to understand the opportunities offered by technology and the requirements of the law in order to make their businesses more innovative and profitable. Let’s make the most of this change!
A wise person once said, ‘Dear past, thank you for the lessons; dear future, we are ready’. We are ready at Castrén & Snellman—I hope you are, too!
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Latest references
Lenders and Export Credit Agencies – EUR 514.4 million green project financing for Easpring Finland New Materials’ CAM plant
We acted as Finnish law legal adviser to the lenders and the export credit agencies in connection with the EUR 514.4 million green project financing for the development and construction of Easpring Finland New Materials Oy’s cathode active material (CAM) manufacturing plant in Kotka, Finland. The borrower, Easpring Finland New Materials Oy, is a joint venture owned by Beijing Easpring Material Technology, Finnish Minerals Group and LG Energy Solution. The financing was provided by six international commercial banks, with Société Générale acting as financial adviser and mandated lead arranger together with Natixis as co-mandated lead arranger, and DNB, ICBC, ING and Standard Chartered participating as lenders, with support from the export credit agencies Finnvera and Sinosure. The project represents a significant milestone for Finland and the European battery value chain by strengthening Europe’s domestic supply of cathode active materials, a key component in lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles and energy storage applications. Once the first phase of the project is operational, the Kotka facility is expected to produce approximately 60,000 tonnes of cathode active material annually, making it one of the largest CAM production plants in Europe and supplying leading battery manufacturers across Europe.
Case published 21.7.2026
Delta Capacity – Acquisition of BESS Project
We acted as Finnish legal advisor to Delta Capacity in connection with its acquisition of the ready-to-build Karppio battery energy storage system (BESS) project from Helios Nordic Energy. The acquisition was made and the project will be implemented together with Strioga Family Foundation. The Karppio BESS project is located in Teuva, Finland, and has a capacity of 125 MW / 300 MWh. Delta Capacity will lead the remaining development of the project through to commissioning, planned for 2027, and will serve as long-term asset manager. Delta Capacity is a Swiss-based developer of utility scale battery storage systems. The acquisition adds to Delta Capacity’s growing Nordic portfolio.
Case published 20.7.2026
Swedbank – Refinancing of Trophi’s Finnish retail real estate portfolio
We advised Swedbank AB (publ) on the refinancing of a large Finnish retail real estate portfolio owned by Trophi’s Finnish subsidiaries. Trophi is the leading Nordic real estate company focusing on grocery anchored retail properties, with 278 properties across Sweden and Finland. Finland is a market that continues to develop and is also strategically important for Trophi, accounting for approximately 30% of Trophi’s letting and property value.
Case published 17.7.2026
HANZA – Acquisition of Fortaco Finland’s heavy mechanics and assembly business
We are acting as Finnish legal advisor to HANZA in connection with its acquisition of Fortaco Finland’s heavy mechanics and assembly business. The transaction is structured as a combined asset and share acquisition and includes Fortaco Finland’s heavy mechanics and assembly operations in Finland, as well as shares in two Estonian and two Polish subsidiaries. The transaction is expected to close during the fourth quarter of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals. Founded in 2008, HANZA is a Swedish mechanical engineering and electronics contract manufacturing company listed on the Nasdaq Stockholm main list. HANZA has approximately 5,000 employees and annual sales of SEK 10 billion. We advise HANZA on this transaction in collaboration with the Swedish law firm Lindahl.
Case published 15.7.2026