6.5.2025

Castrén & Snellman invites Wille Järvelä and Valentin Golovanov as new Partners in the Firm’s M&A and Private Equity service

Castrén & Snellman continues its strategic growth in M&A and private equity by welcoming new partners Wille Järvelä and Valentin Golovanov to the firm’s M&A and Private Equity service.

With Wille’s and Valentin’s exceptional expertise and strong track record in high-profile cross-border transactions, the firm further strengthens its position as a leading transaction practice in the market.

‘Wille’s and Valentin’s arrival reflects our commitment to responding to our clients’ growing demand for strategic advice to boards, private equity sponsors and executive teams, and underscores our long-term dedication to supporting our clients in their most important projects. Known for our unparalleled client and employee experience rooted in true partnership, I’m proud to welcome Wille and Valentin – trusted advisors who share our straightforward business mindset – to our team,’ said Jarno Tanhuanpää, Managing Partner of Castrén & Snellman.

Wille Järvelä moves to his new role from the position of Vice President M&A Legal and Projects at Huhtamaki Group, where his broad responsibilities included oversight of all legal matters for the Group’s M&A projects, negotiating key commercial contracts, as well as managing and developing the Group’s global external legal counsel network. Before Huhtamaki, Wille worked as an attorney at Roschier. He has over 15 years of versatile experience in providing hands-on high quality executive level legal support to Finnish and international blue-chip companies in cross-functional roles and multi-jurisdictional environments especially within the manufacturing and fast moving consumer goods industries, as well as for industry-specific R&D projects and technology developers.

Valentin Golovanov has extensive experience in advising Finnish and international industrial companies and private equity sponsors on complex large-scale domestic and cross-border transactions, including strategic investments, buyouts and public takeovers. He has been involved in several landmark transactions and has in-depth experience and knowledge in the forest and telecommunications industries as well as the technology and infrastructure sectors. Valentin has over 12 years of M&A experience with the leading law firms in the Nordics. He moves to Castrén & Snellman from Roschier, where he worked for nearly 8 years.

‘Wille’s experience as a key contributor in facilitating strategic decision-making by senior executives and boards, as well as in executing growth plans and transformational projects, will be a great asset to our clients and to our ability to offer even stronger transaction advisory services. Having previously worked across the table, Valentin is known for his pragmatic approach, exceptional ability to grasp what is genuinely important for the client and unwavering commitment to going the extra mile for the client. Both new colleagues are highly experienced negotiators who consistently deliver transactions with the highest levels of client satisfaction. Their capabilities will undoubtedly help our clients succeed and shift our transaction power team into an even higher gear,’ says Benjamin Bade, Head of M&A and transactions services at Castrén & Snellman.

Latest references

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We advised Metsäkonepalvelu Oy in its acquisition of the entire share capital of PJP Metsäexpertit Oy. PJP Metsäexpertit is a Pirkanmaa-based company specialising in forest management and logging. The acquisition will strengthen Metsäkonepalvelu’s operations, particularly in the Pirkanmaa region, and expand its operations. Metsäkonepalvelu is a portfolio company of A. Ahlström Oy, a Finnish family-owned industrial owner. Metsäkonepalvelu provides mechanical timber harvesting services to forest companies, large private forest owners, and the public sector in Finland and Sweden. Metsäkonepalvelu Group employs nearly two hundred forestry professionals.
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We acted as legal adviser to EcoUp Oyj in a directed share issue, through which EcoUp raised a total of approximately EUR 3 million in gross proceeds to strengthen the company’s capital structure and finance its growth. The share issue was directed to a limited group of domestic investors, deviating from the shareholders’ pre-emptive subscription right. EcoUp’s shares are traded on the First North Growth Market Finland marketplace maintained by Nasdaq Helsinki.  EcoUp promotes the green transition of the construction industry by producing carbon-neutral, energy-efficient and circular economy-based materials, services and technologies that help construction industry players reduce their environmental impact. The company has over 40 years of experience in developing and delivering circular economy solutions to customers.
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