18.2.2021

C&S Continues as a Sustainability Forerunner in the Legal Services Industry – Publishes 2020 Sustainability Report

Castrén & Snellman was the first Finnish law firm to join the UN Global Compact at the start of 2020. Our newly published first sustainability report summarises the work we have done so far and sets goals for 2021 that raise the bar even higher. We aim to continue being a forerunner of sustainability in commercial law and to continue building sustainable success stories with our clients.

‘Joining the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative has sharpened our focus. It has been a great pleasure to help our clients take climate action, for example, in wind power projects and carbon neutrality transformations. We have also been involved in sustainable finance and impact investing assignments. Our own work has the greatest impact through these kinds of projects’, C&S Head of Sustainability Anna Kuusniemi-Laine said of the first year.

As part of the Global Compact, the firm just published its first sustainability report, which sums up the firm’s sustainability work in 2020.

‘Our first year focused on climate action. We mapped our carbon footprint, set reduction targets for our emissions and compensated our 2019 emissions. W participated in a clean water project in Ruanda and started our own reforestation project in cooperation with a Finnish organisation called Carbon Deed. We also joined the Science Based Targets – Business Ambition for 1.5°C initiative and committed to its emissions reductions’, Kuusniemi-Laine continued. 

In 2020, we also supported our personnel’s work-life balance and began work to promote diversity.

Our work on all fronts of corporate responsibility continues in 2021. One of the main goals C&S has set for itself this year is developing its expertise in human rights issues: among other things, the firm has join the Finland Chamber of Commerce’s human rights commitment and is carrying out a human rights review of its own operations.

Read the report.

Latest references

We advised Jolt Capital and Tesi in connection with their investment in VEV, a leading provider of commercial fleet electrification solutions. The investment, led by Jolt Capital with Tesi as co-investor, will support VEV’s next phase of growth and expansion across Europe. As part of the transaction, VEV became an independent company following the acquisition of Vitol’s stake in the business. Founded by Vitol, VEV provides integrated fleet electrification solutions combining fleet strategy, charging infrastructure, energy supply and operational services. Through its VEV IQ platform, the company supports more than 6,000 commercial electric vehicles across Europe and has been deployed across more than 600 sites spanning the transport, logistics and waste sectors. Jolt Capital is a private equity firm focused on growth investments in European deeptech companies. Tesi is a Finnish state-owned investment company that promotes Finnish business and economic growth through investments. We advised Jolt Capital and Tesi on the equity financing and structuring aspects of the transaction. International law firm Goodwin advised the investors on the acquisition of VEV.
Case published 10.9.2026
VR-Group Plc is a transport and logistics group owned by the Finnish State, operating passenger and freight rail transport in Finland with activities also in the Swedish market. VR Group provides passenger, logistics and maintenance services with over 160 years’ experience in developing responsible transport of the future. We advise VR Group in intellectual property matters as part of the company’s wider brand protection efforts. Our assignments have included advice on copyright, design rights and trademarks, focusing on the protection of the company’s visual identity – including its distinctive green colour – in connection with transport services as part of a comprehensive IP protection strategy. VR Group’s consistent brand building has also received recognition, including the Finland Chamber of Commerce’s Brand of the Year award in 2026. In the competition, brands were viewed comprehensively from various perspectives, including their story, strategic role, brand renewal ability and intellectual property protection. The jury found that VR had understood the importance of the protection of its brand as part of a comprehensive business strategy. 
Case published 9.9.2026
We advised NoHo Partners Plc on the issuance of EUR 50 million senior secured floating rate notes. The notes have a tenor of four years and mature on 10 September 2030. The notes bear interest at a rate of three-month EURIBOR plus a margin of 4.375 per cent. per annum. The notes were allocated to a mix of domestic and international investors. We also advised NoHo Partners on the negotiation of its new senior facilities agreement. The facilities agreement comprises a EUR 60,000,000 term loan facility, a EUR 10,000,000 capex facility and a EUR 27,000,000 revolving credit facility. “We are delighted by the interest investors have shown in the company’s Notes, which reflects confidence in our strategy. The successful issuance of the Notes, together with the new loan agreement, extends the maturity profile of our financing and enables the company to continue executing its growth strategy going forward. I would like to thank all investors for their participation, as well as our partner bank for the excellent execution of the Notes issuance”, says Jarno Suominen, CEO of NoHo Partners. OP Corporate Bank plc acted as the sole lead manager and bookrunner for the issue of the notes. NoHo Partners Plc is a Finnish group established in 1996, and it specialises in restaurant services being the creative innovator of the Northern European restaurant market. The company was listed in Nasdaq Helsinki in 2013 becoming the first Finnish listed restaurant company, and it has continued to grow strongly throughout its history. NoHo Partners’ vision is to be the leading restaurant operator in Northern Europe.
Case published 4.9.2026
We advised Topfoods Oy, a Triton-backed Geia Group company, on its acquisition of Oy Delice Plus Ab, a Finnish supplier of cakes and pastries. Through the acquisition, Topfoods strengthens its retail business and further reinforces its position in the cakes and pastries segment. Founded in 2008, Topfoods supplies selected food products to professional kitchens, the retail sector, and the food industry. 
Case published 4.9.2026