Maarit Taurula to Strengthen Castrén & Snellman’s Competition Law and Public Procurement Expertise

‘During my time at the FCCA, I noticed that C&S’s Competition & Procurement team always delivers high-quality, professional and solution-oriented work, showing a good and constructive spirit. This makes it easy for me to join the team. I am excited to be able to help domestic and international clients using my competition and procurement expertise,’ Maarit says.

With over 20 years at the FCCA, Maarit is highly experienced in merger control and the supervision of competition rules in different industries. She has gained valuable expertise while working on numerous cartel cases, investigations into abuse of dominant market position, and judicial proceedings. For several years, Maarit was also in charge of merger control and public procurement supervision at the FCCA.

Even Better Service in Competition Enforcement Proceedings

For years, our firm’s Competition and Procurement service has advised clients in Finland’s most significant transactions, cartel cases and procurement disputes. The partners heading the service are very pleased and happy that Maarit has decided to join the team:

‘Maarit is a top-notch professional with a long career in competition law. She will bring over 20 years of experience of the functioning of the competition authorities to our team. Now we will be able to provide an even more seamless service in various regulatory proceedings along with comprehensive and insightful advice in transactions both at home and abroad,’ says Partner Jussi Nieminen.

‘Maarit brings vast experience of the application of competition and procurement law to the firm. She is also well acquainted with how the FCCA and the European Commission function and what their supervision priorities are,’ says Partner Anna Kuusniemi-Laine.

Tightening Regulation and Changes in Operating Environment Challenge Companies

Competition law is undergoing many changes. The ongoing digital transformation and green transition also affect competition, state aid and procurement legislation. There is a trend toward tighter regulation both in Finland and abroad.

Maarit highlights three key points already strongly affecting companies’ operating environments:

Although the world is changing, the core idea behind competition rules and the goal of well-functioning markets still stand. For example, competition authorities have acknowledged the challenges the coronavirus pandemic and the war in Ukraine pose to companies. At the same time, competition rules must still be complied with in the midst of crises.

Maarit Taurula has a Master of Laws degree from the University of Helsinki. She worked at the Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority from 2000 to 2022. She has also completed an MA degree in Public Procurement Regulation in the EU at King’s College London.