7.11.2025

In-Depth: Banking Regulation – Castrén & Snellman contributed a chapter on Finland

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Financial Regulation

Janne Lauha, Hannu Huotilainen and Karin Hentunen contributed a chapter on Finland to Lexology In-Depth: Banking Regulation (formerly The Banking Regulation Review), an annual survey of the most important developments in banking regulation in the most significant jurisdictions worldwide.

The chapter offers an overview of banking regulation developments in Finland, read the chapter here.

The 16th edition provides high-level insight across the gamut of the legal and regulatory requirements applicable to banks, including prudential regulation, rules governing the conduct of business, funding, control and transfers of banking business and much more. The editor is Jan Putnis, Partner at Slaughter and May in London.

Latest news

3.11.2025 We are now looking for Junior Trainees for summer 2026 15.10.2025 – Tax & Structuring ITR World Tax 2026: Castrén & Snellman among Finland’s best tax law firms 9.10.2025 – Private M&A C&S services and experts top-ranked in IFLR1000 Financial & Corporate 2025

Latest references

Ministry of the Environment – Report on the promotion of circular economy aspects in public procurement

Castrén & Snellman was commissioned by the Ministry of the Environment to carry out a study on how the Circular Economy Act could be used to promote circular economy aspects in public procurement. Our report provides valuable information to the working group tasked with preparing the new Circular Economy Act. The report includes an overview of relevant strategies, action programmes and policies, a look at relevant legislation and case law, an assessment of the current state of circular economy procurement and examples of integrating circular economy aspects into public procurement from around the world. We end the report with concrete conclusions and a proposal for a new circular economy provision with justification. The proposal aims to maximise the regulation’s effectiveness and minimise any adverse side effects. The final report is available on the Circular Economy Act project’s Gateway to Information (in Finnish). The study was carried out by Anna Kuusniemi-Laine, Sanna Aalto-Setälä, Lotta Huhtamäki, Marja Ollila, Laura Vuorinen, Paavo Heinonen and Anna Ylitalo.

CapMan Real Estate – Acquisition of a High-Quality Residential Asset

We advised CapMan Real Estate in the acquisition and financing of a high-quality residential asset located in Katajanokka, Helsinki. The asset was acquired from the Finnish Seamen’s Service Bureau (MEPA). The property consisting of 38 modern rental apartments with a parking garage was completed in 2017. The building features high-quality construction, modern floorplans, and well-designed communal areas including a gym and rooftop sauna premises, and blends with the area’s historic maritime character. The residential asset is located in the prestigious Katajanokka seaside district of central Helsinki, known for its architectural heritage and proximity to the city centre. The property has a high ESG profile which will be further improved by CapMan Real Estate.

Stena Line – Acquisition of NLC Ferry (Wasaline)

We are acting as legal adviser to Stena Line on its acquisition of NLC Ferry Ab Oy (Wasaline), strengthening Stena Line’s position in the Baltic Sea and enabling it to take over operations of the ferry route between Umeå in Sweden and Vaasa in Finland. The acquisition further strengthens Stena Line’s position as one of the leaders in sustainability within the ferry industry and enhances the company’s access to alternative fuels whilst providing a strong intermodal transport link towards Gothenburg and Trelleborg, and onwards to the European continent. NLC Ferry, operating under the auxiliary name Wasaline, were owned by Kvarken Link, a company jointly owned 50/50 by the cities of Umeå and Vaasa. Wasaline is the world’s northernmost shipping company, operating daily passenger and freight services between Vaasa, Finland and Umeå, Sweden, and is the first carbon-neutral ferry operator in the Baltic Sea with its hybrid vessel, Aurora Botnia, which runs on biogas and batteries. Stena Line is one of Europe’s leading ferry operators, with 20 routes across the continent. The company is family-owned, was founded in 1962 and is headquartered in Gothenburg, with 6,550 employees and an annual turnover of 19.6 billion SEK. The transaction is conditional to the approval of the respective municipal councils of Umeå and Vaasa as well as customary closing conditions such as authority approvals. The completion of the transaction is expected to take place in the beginning of the year 2026. Castrén & Snellman is collaborating with CMS Wistrand, Stena Line’s advisor on Swedish law matters in connection with the transaction.

Prisma Properties – Acquisition of a retail property

We advised Prisma Properties in a real estate transaction in which the company acquired a retail property in Helsinki from Hartela. The acquired property was built specifically for the discount retailer Jula. Completed in October 2025, the property is modern and very energy-efficient, and it is fully leased to Jula under a 10-year lease agreement. The property located in the Konala district, adjacent to the busy Ristikko shopping centre, spans 2,600 square metres. Prisma Properties is a fast-growing developer and long-term owner of modern properties for discount retail, grocery retail, and quick-service restaurants. The company operates across the Nordics and manages a property portfolio valued at approximately EUR 650 million, primarily consisting of newly developed properties with long lease agreements.

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