14.4.2016

Castrén & Snellman Holds its Strong Position in the New Edition of Legal 500

Again, like last year, the Legal 500 EMEA has ranked eight of Castrén & Snellman’s services in Tier 1 and two services in Tier 2. The publication reviewed a total of ten practice areas in Finland this year. Our St Petersburg office’s M&A expertise maintained its position in Tier 2.

Partners Marko Hentunen, Jan Kuhlefelt, Anna Kuusniemi-Laine, Niklas Langenskiöld, Rickard Langenskiöld, Kimmo Rekola, Tero Tuomisto and Matias Wallgren were once again ranked as Leading Lawyers in Finland. The head of our IP practice, Partner Sakari Salonen, was also recognised as a Leading Lawyer for the first time this year.

This year, the publication also mentioned several of our lawyers for the first time, including Sami Lindström, Anne Vanhala, Eija Warma and Miika Pinomaa.

The publication had, e.g. the following to say about our firm:

Banking & Finance: Department head Tero Tuomisto ‘ensures that even the smallest details will be treated and delivered as promised’.

Dispute Resolution: Castrén & Snellman’s growing practice is led by  Marko Hentunen and is noted for its ‘great service’ and ‘specialist teams who really know their area’… The ‘conscientious’ Anders Forss is also recommended.

EU & Competition: Castrén & Snellman’s team is praised for its ‘good understanding of business and clients’ financial considerations’.

Real Estate & Construction: Castrén & Snellman acted for OP Financial Group on one of the largest real estate transactions to date in Finland, concerning the construction of the REDI shopping centre and parking facilities in Helsinki.

TMT: Castrén & Snellman is praised for its knowledge of data privacy legislation.

The Legal 500 is one of the most prestigious publications in our line of business, and it ranks law firms and lawyers throughout the world. The rankings are based on interviews with lawyers and their clients.

For a more detailed look at the rankings, please visit The Legal 500 website.

Latest references

We advised OP Corporate Bank plc in a real estate financing arrangement relating to DHL Express logistics centre under construction near Helsinki Airport. In the arrangement Nrep (acting on behalf of NSF III Fund) and Pontos Group acquired Finavia’s stake of DHL Express logistics centre under construction. LEED Platinum certification will be applied for the project, and as a result of the certification, the facility is contemplated to qualify as a green loan after the construction completion date.
Case published 12.3.2025
We advised Gasum in chartering a new LNG and bio-LNG bunker vessel. The vessel called Celsius will serve Gasum’s customers starting 2027. The investment is part of Gasum’s strategy to secure the availability of LNG and bio-LNG to its customers in the Northwestern European area as demand increases in the coming years. Gasum is a Nordic gas sector and energy market expert. Gasum offers cleaner energy and energy market expert services for industry and for combined heat and power production as well as cleaner fuel solutions for road and maritime transport. The company helps its customers to reduce their own carbon footprint as well as that of their customers. Sirius is a Swedish shipping company founded by the Backman family. Sirius operates 11 product/chemical tankers and 2 LNG tankers and has a further 3 product/chemical tankers under commercial management.
Case published 11.3.2025
Castren & Snellman Ebrands funding round
We assisted eBrands Holdings Oy in its latest funding round, during which the company raised 7.5 million euros. The new funding brings the company’s total raised capital to 50 million euros. The latest funding round was mainly led by the family investment company Veikko Laine, Varma Pension Fund, and operational shareholders. The funding will be used to develop eBrands’ AI-based Apollo market growth tool, which helps brands expand into sixty different markets and sales channels without local infrastructure or heavy investments. eBrands is an export platform that grows consumer brands globally through e-commerce and major retail channels. Specializing in the US and European markets, eBrands enables brands to internationalize with an export service model that reduces the risk and complexity associated with expansion by leveraging advanced technology. Founded in 2020, the Helsinki-based company’s team includes 75 people, and the company’s revenue exceeds 35 million euros.
Case published 11.3.2025
We advised the real estate investor and developer Nrep in a EUR 100 million construction project in Helsinki, which combines build-to-rent housing and care homes within the one scheme. A fund managed by Nrep (NSF V) purchased the plot of land in Herttoniemi, Helsinki and subsequently secured planning consent to deliver a hybrid living scheme. The modern complex will offer high-quality housing and care facilities for the elderly alongside rental accommodation. We advised Nrep in both the purchase of the plot and the contracting of the care and housing complex. A total of 425 apartments and 108 care homes will be delivered across four buildings on the site. Construction is scheduled to begin in autumn 2025, with delivery targeted in 2028. The project will be implemented in accordance with Nrep’s principles of sustainable construction. The buildings will be equipped with solar panels, geothermal heat will be used throughout, and low-emission green concrete and steel will be used as materials. 
Case published 6.3.2025