7.6.2019

Castrén & Snellman’s Patent Team Recognised as One of Finland’s Top Practices in the 2019 Edition of IAM Patent 1000

Castrén & Snellman has once again been ranked as one of the leading law firms in Finland in the 2019 Edition of Intellectual Asset Management (IAM) Patent 1000 – The World’s Leading Patent Professionals – in the patent litigation and transactions categories.

In the patent litigation category, the publication stated that Head of IP Sakari Salonen ‘really understands the business side of intellectual property and anticipates what his clients need’, and ‘he’s brilliant on the law and very easy to work with’. Life Sciences head Hanna Paloheimo was described as ‘an industry insider with a blend of patent and regulatory expertise’.

According to the publication, ‘experienced litigators Salonen and Paloheimo are currently handling pharmaceutical marketing authorisation matters, patent infringement preliminary injunction proceedings, multifaceted IP enforcement actions, utility model invalidations and employee invention disputes’.

As regards the transactional side, Private Equity & Venture Capital specialist Kimmo Rekola ‘has overseen numerous sales and acquisitions between Finnish and international parties’.

IAM Patent 1000 is a unique guide that identifies the top patent practitioners in the patent prosecution, transactions and litigation fields in key jurisdictions around the globe. Only those individuals identified by market sources for their exceptional skill sets and profound insights into patent matters feature in the IAM Patent 1000.

These rankings highlight the quality and expertise of our intellectual property practice and our commitment to provide unique IP solutions. See all IAM Patent 1000 rankings in Finland on IAM website. 

Latest references

We advised the shareholders in Puhdistamo – Real Foods Oy in the sale of all shares in Puhdistamo to PK Consumer Health. Puhdistamo is a leading Nordic wellbeing company, best known for its high-quality supplements, sports nutrition products and, functional beverages. Puhdistamo employs 120 employees in Finland and Sweden. PK Consumer Health is owned by Avista Healthcare Partners and Damier Group. The sellers will make a reinvestment into PK Consumer Health as part of the transaction. Completion is subject to customary closing conditions.
Case published 15.1.2026
We advised the real estate investor and developer Urban Partners in the financing of a EUR 100 million construction project in Helsinki, which combines build-to-rent housing and care homes within one scheme.  A fund managed by Urban Partners (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. A total of 425 apartments and 108 care homes will be delivered across four buildings on the site.  The project will be implemented in accordance with Urban Partners’ sustainability targets. All buildings will be constructed to energy class A, and the project will aim for the highest Platinum level of the international LEED environmental certification and will be implemented in accordance with the EU taxonomy criteria.
Case published 5.1.2026
We assisted Citycon Oyj in the sale of the Lippulaiva residential assets in Espoo, Finland. The sold residential assets consist of 275 apartments totaling approximately 13,000 sqm, located in connection to Citycon’s Lippulaiva shopping centre. The assets were sold at their latest IFRS book value for a gross purchase price of EUR 61.5 million.
Case published 19.12.2025
We advised S-Bank Plc in its issuance of a EUR 150 million Senior Non-Preferred Notes and on the tender offer of its EUR 150 million Senior Preferred MREL Eligible Notes maturing in 2026. The tender offer required prior approval from the Finnish Financial Stability Authority based on the Commission’s regulatory technical standards (EU) 2023/827. The Stability Authority granted S-Bank a permission for repurchases of the notes. Based on the permission, S-Bank replaced the notes with own funds or eligible liabilities instruments of equal or higher quality at terms that are sustainable for the income capacity of S-Bank. According to the final tender offer results published on 10 December 2025, S-Bank repurchased a total of EUR 97.9 million of the notes. The new notes will pay a floating interest rate, which is determined based on 3-month Euribor added with a margin of 1.35 per cent. The notes were issued on 11 December 2025 and listed on Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd. The maturity date of the notes is 11 December 2029. The purpose of the issue was to meet the minimum requirement for own funds and eligible liabilities (MREL) and to finance the bank’s activities.
Case published 18.12.2025