20.12.2019

A Year of New Technology – Document Automation Now Part of Everyday Work

Signe, Castrén & Snellman’s document automation tool, was launched inside the firm four years ago to speed up drafting. In January of this year, we began offering our document automation expertise of our clients.

You can use Signe to create new documents efficiently based on automation, which reduces the amount of time spent on drafting. The documents that you need most often, such as various contracts, are always within arm’s reach.

Signe makes it possible to test how automation could benefit your workplace. It is easy to start with your most common documents, such as confidentiality agreements or powers of attorney, before automating more extensive sets of documents. Signe functions as a portal, and the monthly fee depends on the total page count of your automated documents. If you already have contract templates, automating them through Signe is often a matter of just a few days.

Automation Frees up Time for More Challenging and Creative Work

Using technology to support legal work speeds up and streamlines document drafting at a reasonable cost by reducing routine tasks. This produces many benefits, such as better work efficiency, smoother contract negotiations and improved risk management. By freeing up time for more challenging and creative work, technology also improves work satisfaction.

New Product: Annual General Meeting Minutes

Castrén & Snellman is now offering annual general meeting minutes as a new type of automated document. Automated minutes streamline administrative work by making it easier to get to grips with the contents and structure of the minutes, speeding up the recording of meeting participants and their shares, and providing alternative wordings for mandatory sections prescribed by the Limited Liability Companies Act.

Signe makes it possible to draft minutes for as many as ten companies quickly using a single form. The minutes and other documents are available in Finnish, English and bilingual versions.

Castrén & Snellman’s legal tech team supports our clients by producing efficient automated documents. Get acquainted with Signe by contacting Teresa Kauppila or Paula Aura.

Latest references

We advised Suominen Corporation in connection with its rights issue. The offering was oversubscribed, and the company raised gross proceeds of approximately EUR 28 million. We also advised Suominen in connection with the renegotiation of the terms of the company’s three-year EUR 100 million syndicated credit facility, under which the maturity was extended and headroom was added to the financial covenants. “I would like to thank our shareholders for their support and confidence in Suominen’s future. The completion of the Offering will enable us to accelerate the implementation of our Full Potential Program while strengthening our capital structure. Our transformation particularly focuses on enhancing the reliability and efficiency of our production and supply, and on reinforcing our commercial capabilities, allowing us to better meet the expectations of our customers and shareholders”, comments Charles Héaulmé, President and CEO of Suominen. Suominen is a nonwovens manufacturer operating in global markets. Suominen creates value by taking fiber raw materials and turning them into nonwovens that the company’s customers convert into both consumer and professional end products. Suominen’s vision is to be the frontrunner for nonwovens innovation and sustainability. Suominen’s net sales in 2025 were EUR 412.4 million and the company has almost 700 professionals working in Europe and in the Americas. Suominen’s shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki.
Case published 6.7.2026
We acted as joint legal advisor for Nordea Bank Abp and Avain Yhtiöt in an approximately EUR 48 million financing arrangement which included facilities for refinancing of an existing real estate portfolio and also for acquisition and property development purposes. The financing arrangement strengthens Avain Yhtiöt’s objective to build and maintain a functional, safe and environmentally friendly living environment, as well as to develop the overall quality of housing and construction. Avain Yhtiöt is a Finnish group specialising in housing and housing-related services, construction contracting and new construction. Its goal is to build 1,000 new apartments per year in key growth areas in Finland.
Case published 2.7.2026
We advised the shareholders of Suomen Autohuolto Oy in connection with the sale of the company’s entire share capital, to SAKA Finland Group Oy. Suomen Autohuolto Group is one of Finland’s largest companies specializing in brand-specific automotive maintenance and has locations in Oulu, Tampere, and from July, also in Järvenpää. The transaction is subject to final approval by the Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority (KKV).
Case published 26.6.2026
AI training
We delivered two tailor-made AI workshops for the lawyers at the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke). We discussed the AI revolution and its impact on lawyers’ ways of thinking and working, and left the participants with practical solutions for enhancing and streamlining their work with Legora. Our AI-specialist lawyers prepared use cases tailored to Luke and the needs of public administration, which Luke received for its own use following the workshops. These use cases covered topics such as: utilising legal sources and the organisation’s own data to maximise AI results building and leveraging AI workflows AI-enhanced contract drafting based on a large volume of documents. The workshops sparked wide-ranging discussion on the role and benefits of AI in legal work. Participants appreciated how clearly and comprehensively our experts were able to present the nature and benefits of AI specifically within a legal context. ‘The workshops provided excellent support for Luke’s goal of leveraging AI responsibly and gave us concrete and ready-to-use practical takeaways,’ says Hannu Laitinen, Luke’s Senior Vice President, Administrative Affairs.
Case published 26.6.2026