1.4.2026

New promotions at Castrén & Snellman

Our business is to enable our clients’ success and ensure their legal protection. We stand committed by our customers’ side, helping them build a lasting advantage. To acknowledge their distinguished work towards our clients’ success, we promote nine of our experts to new roles.

We promote Anu Aaltonen as senior counsel and Freja Väyrynen and Lauri Ylönen as counsel. In addition, we promote four senior associate lawyers and two Business Services specialists. The promotions take effect today, 1 April 2026.

Anu Aaltonen, senior counsel, Competition & Procurement

Anu Aaltonen is an experienced competition law specialist with expertise spanning the entire field. She provides our clients with comprehensive and practical advice on all competition law issues, such as cartel investigations, dominance matters, self-assessments and M&A-related competition matters. 

Her strategic thinking and ability to grasp the big picture have benefitted our clients even in the most challenging competition law matters, which is where her skills are particularly evident. This appointment is a testament to Anu’s strong expertise and her consistent and dedicated work for our clients.

Freja Väyrynen, counsel, Private Equity

Freja Väyrynen is an attorney specialising in private equity and fund-related matters, advising clients across the private equity lifecycle with a strong commercial and client-oriented approach.

She advises our clients on a broad range of assignments, including fund formation, fund investments and secondary transactions. Freja also regularly advises clients on private equity transactions.

Lauri Ylönen, counsel, Real Estate Investments & Transactions

Attorney Lauri Ylönen advises our clients broadly in both domestic and international real estate transactions as well as in other projects and arrangements related to real estate.

In addition to his work with real estate matters, Lauri is specialised in environmental law and has long‑standing experience in environmental law assignments.

New senior associates

Jonas Holm, Environment, Energy & Green Transition

Lotta Huhtamäki, Competition & Procurement

Juhana Hyytinen, Banking & Finance

Vilma Setälä, International Construction & Projects

Appointments in Business Services

Laura Pesonen, Legal Project Manager

Jonna Vainikainen, Data & Process Manager

Warm congratulations on your new roles, Anu, Freja, Lauri, Jonas, Lotta, Juhana, Vilma, Laura and Jonna!

Latest references

We advised Efima Oyj on the sale of its AI business to Better Care Technologies Oy. The transaction included Efima’s Moiva AI platform developed for the care sector, the related technology and brand, customer contracts, and the experts working in the business. Efima is a Finnish digital company that supports the sustainable growth of large and mid-sized companies by streamlining their business processes and by creating competitive advantage through the innovative use of artificial intelligence and data. The company has nearly 200 experts based in Helsinki and Tampere. 
Case published 21.9.2026
We advised Neoen Renewables Finland Oy, part of the French Neoen Group, in its sale of a data centre project to a consortium consisting of international data centre developers and operators. This marked Neoen’s first data centre development project in Finland. Founded in 2008, Neoen is one of the world’s leading independent renewable energy producers. The company operates in 15 countries. It develops, finances, builds, owns, and operates solar power plants, wind farms, and battery storage systems. Neoen Group is owned by global alternative asset manager Brookfield Corporation.
Case published 17.9.2026
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