14.3.2025

C&S Contributes to the 2024 Nordic Survey on Challenging Arbitral Awards

Our dispute resolution experts Ilona Karppinen and Iris Brisson are the Finnish contributors to the annual Survey on Challenging Arbitral Awards in the Nordics for the second consecutive year, having been involved in launching the survey last year as Finnish founding contributors.

The recently published 2024 report provides insights into challenge cases in the Nordic countries over the past two years. The 2024 report also contains an overview of the Nordic approach to excess of mandate as a ground for challenging arbitral awards.

The survey aims to facilitate the development of arbitration in the Nordic countries. The report was done in collaboration with contributing law firms from Denmark, Norway and Sweden.

The survey concludes that, despite a rise in the number of cases during 2024, challenges to arbitral awards continue to be rare in all Nordic jurisdictions and are unlikely to succeed due to the arbitration-friendly stances of national court systems.

Click here to read the report.

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