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 Jolt Capital and Tesi in connection with their investment in VEV, a leading provider of commercial fleet electrification solutions. The investment, led by Jolt Capital with Tesi as co-investor, will support VEV’s next phase of growth and expansion across Europe. As part of the transaction, VEV became an independent company following the acquisition of Vitol’s stake in the business. Founded by Vitol, VEV provides integrated fleet electrification solutions combining fleet strategy, charging infrastructure, energy supply and operational services. Through its VEV IQ platform, the company supports more than 6,000 commercial electric vehicles across Europe and has been deployed across more than 600 sites spanning the transport, logistics and waste sectors. Jolt Capital is a private equity firm focused on growth investments in European deeptech companies. Tesi is a Finnish state-owned investment company that promotes Finnish business and economic growth through investments. We advised Jolt Capital and Tesi on the equity financing and structuring aspects of the transaction. International law firm Goodwin advised the investors on the acquisition of VEV.
Case published 10.9.2026
VR-Group Plc is a transport and logistics group owned by the Finnish State, operating passenger and freight rail transport in Finland with activities also in the Swedish market. VR Group provides passenger, logistics and maintenance services with over 160 years’ experience in developing responsible transport of the future. We advise VR Group in intellectual property matters as part of the company’s wider brand protection efforts. Our assignments have included advice on copyright, design rights and trademarks, focusing on the protection of the company’s visual identity – including its distinctive green colour – in connection with transport services as part of a comprehensive IP protection strategy. VR Group’s consistent brand building has also received recognition, including the Finland Chamber of Commerce’s Brand of the Year award in 2026. In the competition, brands were viewed comprehensively from various perspectives, including their story, strategic role, brand renewal ability and intellectual property protection. The jury found that VR had understood the importance of the protection of its brand as part of a comprehensive business strategy. 
Case published 9.9.2026
We advised NoHo Partners Plc on the issuance of EUR 50 million senior secured floating rate notes. The notes have a tenor of four years and mature on 10 September 2030. The notes bear interest at a rate of three-month EURIBOR plus a margin of 4.375 per cent. per annum. The notes were allocated to a mix of domestic and international investors. We also advised NoHo Partners on the negotiation of its new senior facilities agreement. The facilities agreement comprises a EUR 60,000,000 term loan facility, a EUR 10,000,000 capex facility and a EUR 27,000,000 revolving credit facility. “We are delighted by the interest investors have shown in the company’s Notes, which reflects confidence in our strategy. The successful issuance of the Notes, together with the new loan agreement, extends the maturity profile of our financing and enables the company to continue executing its growth strategy going forward. I would like to thank all investors for their participation, as well as our partner bank for the excellent execution of the Notes issuance”, says Jarno Suominen, CEO of NoHo Partners. OP Corporate Bank plc acted as the sole lead manager and bookrunner for the issue of the notes. NoHo Partners Plc is a Finnish group established in 1996, and it specialises in restaurant services being the creative innovator of the Northern European restaurant market. The company was listed in Nasdaq Helsinki in 2013 becoming the first Finnish listed restaurant company, and it has continued to grow strongly throughout its history. NoHo Partners’ vision is to be the leading restaurant operator in Northern Europe.
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We advised Topfoods Oy, a Triton-backed Geia Group company, on its acquisition of Oy Delice Plus Ab, a Finnish supplier of cakes and pastries. Through the acquisition, Topfoods strengthens its retail business and further reinforces its position in the cakes and pastries segment. Founded in 2008, Topfoods supplies selected food products to professional kitchens, the retail sector, and the food industry. 
Case published 4.9.2026