14.11.2018
Benjamin Bade, Antti Kaakkola and Matti Lajunen Appointed Partners at Castrén & Snellman
Related services
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.
Latest news
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