28.3.2024

Castrén & Snellman top ranked in the Legal 500 EMEA 2024: ‘C&S is truly a full-service law firm’

The Legal 500 EMEA 2024 edition has ranked nine of Castrén & Snellman’s services in Tier 1: 

Banking and finance, Capital markets, Commercial, corporate and M&A, Dispute resolution, Employment, EU and competition, Intellectual property, Real estate and construction and TMT. Our Tax and Maritime & Transport services were placed in Tier 2.

A total of 32 of our experts were recognised for their exceptional work in their own fields. Our clients were especially impressed by our deep expertise and collaborative, pragmatic and solution-oriented way of working. The Legal 500 ranks law firms and lawyers throughout the world and is one of the most prestigious publications in our line of business.

Clients praise our legal expertise and teamwork

The rankings are largely based on interviews with clients. Here are some quotes from our clients:

Commercial, Corporate & M&A: 

A solid team working very well together. Quick turnaround in challenging questions, pragmatic and solution oriented.

Banking & Finance: 

The team has resources to advise on the most challenging finance transactions.

Dispute Resolution: 

I find this to be the best disputes team in Finland. Very knowledgeable in procedure, including international arbitration, and with a distinct focus on quality in every aspect. Detailed and strategic at the same time, structured and pragmatic. A pleasure to work with.

Capital Markets: 

Deep competence in capital markets laws, helpful and friendly attitude.

Employment: 

Castren’s employment law team are the strongest employment law team in Finland. They solve the client’s problems in the best way. The collaboration with the client and other law firms on multi-jurisdictional projects is excellent.

EU & Competition: 

They provide pragmatic legal advice without taking any shortcuts, extremely knowledgeable within their legal fields, of the firms’ different practice areas, and about the Finnish and Nordic market.

Real Estate & Construction: 

C&S has one of the leading real estate practices in Finland. They have a strong position especially in demanding real estate transactions and development projects.

TMT: 

Excellent lawyers. Great litigators and legal advisors. Extremely good knowledge about the market and our specific business needs. Proactive.

Tax: 

Relevant high-quality experience and straight forward thinking – no nonsense in approach, wide variety of knowledge in all tax areas.

Castrén & Snellman is also a recommended firm in the Green Guide EMEA 2024. Click here to learn more about this recognition. 

The Legal 500 highlighted five C&S lawyers in the Finnish Hall of Fame:

Mikko Alakare, Marko Hentunen, Janne Juusela, Anna Kuusniemi-Laine, Rickard Langenskiöld

10 C&S lawyers were recognised as Leading Individuals:

Anders Forss, Tomi Kemppainen, Merja Kivelä, Janne Lauha, Tuomas Lehtinen, Sakari Lukinmaa, Sakari Salonen, Tero Tuomisto, Outi Tähtinen and Jan Örndahl

Eight were recognised as Next Generation Partners:

Benjamin Bade, Antti Kaakkola, Ilona Karppinen, Minna Korhonen, Jussi Nieminen, Kim Parviainen, Jerker Pitkänen and Eija Warma-Lehtinen

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

Latest references

We advised Neste as it signed a EUR 150 million bilateral green term loan agreement with Danske Bank A/S, Finland Branch. The proceeds of the loan will be used to finance eligible assets and projects in accordance with Neste’s Green Finance Framework. The loan has a tenor of 24 months with one 12-months extension option of 12 months. Neste published a renewed Green Finance Framework in February 2024 to align future financing activities with market best practices and standards. In addition to renewable and circular solutions, Neste’s renewed framework includes renewable energy as an investment category. Longer term actions on ourNeste’s climate roadmap include scaling up new technologies and innovations, with focus on renewable hydrogen. Renewable hydrogen and other new technologies are estimated to have a reduction potential of 20% or more of the 2019 scope 1 &and 2 emission baseline by 2030. 
Case published 4.11.2024
We assisted Nrep in the development of a residential building that will be built adjacent to the Arabia Shopping Centre in north-eastern Helsinki. Our assignment included assisting in a financing arrangement for the residential building, together with corporate and real estate arrangements related to the project. This involved restructuring through share transactions and a demerger, a zoning change, a change of plot division, a joint arrangement, and a management division agreement. The new 16-storey residential building will consist of 188 Juli Living rental apartments and additional business premises on the street level. Once completed, the building will be one of the most energy-efficient residential buildings in Finland. The financing arrangement complies with Nrep’s sustainability targets. LEED Platinum certification will be applied for the project, while the previous two LEED Platinum certificates for residential buildings have been awarded to Nrep’s Herttoniemi and Friisilä sites.
Case published 28.10.2024
We acted as Finnish counsel to Pernod Ricard in the sale of a portfolio of local Nordic brands to Oy Hartwall Ab, an affiliate of the Danish group Royal Unibrew. Pernod Ricard is a worldwide leader in the spirits and wine industry. The local portfolio of brands includes spirits, liqueurs and Finnish wine brands, the best-known being the liqueur Minttu, along with their related production assets based in Turku, Finland. The closing of the transaction remains subject to customary conditions.
Case published 21.10.2024
We advised Neste as it signed a EUR 200 million bilateral green term loan agreement with UniCredit Bank Austria AG. The proceeds of the loan will be used to finance eligible assets and projects in accordance with Neste’s Green Finance Framework. The loan has a tenor of six years. Neste published a renewed Green Finance Framework in February 2024 to align future financing activities with market best practices and standards. In addition to renewable and circular solutions, Neste’s renewed framework includes renewable energy as an investment category. Longer term actions on Neste’s climate roadmap include scaling up new technologies and innovations, with focus on renewable hydrogen. Renewable hydrogen and other new technologies are estimated to have a reduction potential of 20% or more of the 2019 scope 1 and 2 emission baseline by 2030. 
Case published 21.10.2024