Benjamin Bade, Antti Kaakkola and Matti Lajunen Appointed Partners at Castrén & Snellman

Castrén & Snellman has appointed M&A lawyer Benjamin Bade and real estate transaction lawyers Antti Kaakkola and Matti Lajunen as partners as of 1 February 2019. These appointments reinforce the firm’s respected and strongly growing Mergers & Acquisitions and Real Estate Investments & Transactions services.

Castrén & Snellman Advises in Finland’s Largest Real Estate Projects

The Finnish real estate market has been very active over the past few years, and the relative number of international investors has seen a significant increase on this market. Extensive development projects have also shaped the market and brought with them new real estate investment models. These needs have been successfully met by Castrén & Snellman’s Real Estate Investments & Transactions service, which is run by Antti Kaakkola and Matti Lajunen.

Antti Kaakkola and Matti Lajunen both have years of experience of a wide variety of real estate transactions and development projects as well as of negotiating the related agreements and other documentation. They have advised clients in Finland’s largest real estate projects and regularly assist numerous international and domestic institutional investors and funds as well as real estate developers and other market operators.

‘Antti has very extensive experience and expertise in major real estate development projects and joint venture real estate arrangements. Matti has worked both as an attorney and as in-house counsel in a listed construction sector company. Matti is respected as a strong strategic partner with a multifaceted perspective. I am highly optimistic about the future of our Real Estate Investments & Transactions service. We have now appointed two very talented and determined “home grown” lawyers as partners to build the practice and the future of Castrén & Snellman’, Managing Partner Sakari Lukinmaa says.

Antti Kaakkola’s recent work highlights include the Pasila Mall of Tripla and Tampere Central Deck and Arena projects, divestments of extensive residential portfolios owned by OP Financial Group funds and numerous real estate arrangements of funds managed by eQ.

Matti Lajunen’s most recent major projects have included the Turku Rail Yard development project, the sale of a care property portfolio managed by Titanium Fund Management Company, the acquisition of retail centres in Laajasalo and Suurpelto, the sale of the landmark Seurahuone property and the sale and lease back arrangements of DSV’s logistics property and Marimekko Corporation’s headquarters.

In addition to Castrén & Snellman, Antti Kaakkola and Matti Lajunen have both worked in top-tier German law firms: Antti at CMS Hasche Sigle and Matti at Hengeler Mueller.

Proven Track Record of Cross-Border M&A Expertise

Castrén & Snellman has a solid position on the Finnish transactions market: the IFLR1000 Finance and Corporate survey recently ranked the firm’s M&A service in the top tier. Last year, Mergermarket chose the firm as Finnish M&A firm of the year. This year, the team is number one in deal count on the Finnish market.

The transactions handled by the firm are first and foremost international projects, which call for both strong international experience and proven project management expertise. Newly appointed partner Benjamin Bade is a perfect fit.

‘Benjamin has international experience, excellent project management skills and a strong track record of coordinating and implementing complex multi-jurisdictional transactions. He understands the expectations of our clients and knows how to achieve the added value and efficiency that these clients expect both in Finland and in a multi-jurisdictional context. Benjamin manages complex projects in a clear and straightforward manner. This appointment ensures that our M&A practice will maintain its strong position at the forefront the Finnish market’, Sakari Lukinmaa says.

This year, Benjamin has been responsible for advising in the combination of AVARN Security and Prevent 360, the sale of Fluido and Finnish counsel to Telia Company in its acquisition of Bonnier Broadcasting.