22.4.2026

Newly promoted senior counsel Anu Aaltonen is a leading expert in challenging competition law matters

Castrén & Snellman promoted Anu Aaltonen to Senior Counsel in its Competition & Procurement practice as of 1 April 2026. She is an experienced competition law specialist with deep expertise across the full breadth of the field.

Anu joined Castrén & Snellman in 2021 and has since built a strong reputation for delivering clear, strategic advice on some of the most demanding competition law matters. Her ability to cut through complexity and provide clients with practical, commercially grounded guidance has made her a trusted adviser across a wide range of issues, including cartel investigations, dominance matters, self-assessments and M&A-related competition questions.

‘Anu’s strategic thinking and ability to grasp the big picture set her apart, particularly in the most demanding competition law matters. Navigating that level of complexity with clarity and confidence requires exceptional skill, and Anu does it consistently. This promotion is a well-deserved recognition of her expertise and her consistent and dedicated work for our clients,’ says partner Jussi Nieminen, Head of Competition & Procurement.

Anu has an exceptional depth of experience. Before joining Castrén & Snellman, she worked as counsel at another law firm for over a decade, developing a comprehensive understanding of competition law in practice. She has also gained experience from the European Commission. In her new role, Anu will take on broader responsibilities, continuing to advise clients on complex competition matters while also playing an active part in developing the team and driving the growth of the practice.

Competition law is never straightforward, but that is what keeps it interesting. I am genuinely excited about this new role, and above all, very happy to working alongside this team of exceptional people. I look forward to everything we will continue to achieve together – for our clients and for the practice. – Anu Aaltonen

Latest references

We acted as Finnish law legal adviser to the lenders and the export credit agencies in connection with the EUR 514.4 million green project financing for the development and construction of Easpring Finland New Materials Oy’s cathode active material (CAM) manufacturing plant in Kotka, Finland. The borrower, Easpring Finland New Materials Oy, is a joint venture owned by Beijing Easpring Material Technology, Finnish Minerals Group and LG Energy Solution. The financing was provided by six international commercial banks, with Société Générale acting as financial adviser and mandated lead arranger together with Natixis as co-mandated lead arranger, and DNB, ICBC, ING and Standard Chartered participating as lenders, with support from the export credit agencies Finnvera and Sinosure. The project represents a significant milestone for Finland and the European battery value chain by strengthening Europe’s domestic supply of cathode active materials, a key component in lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles and energy storage applications. Once the first phase of the project is operational, the Kotka facility is expected to produce approximately 60,000 tonnes of cathode active material annually, making it one of the largest CAM production plants in Europe and supplying leading battery manufacturers across Europe. 
Case published 21.7.2026
We acted as Finnish legal advisor to Delta Capacity in connection with its acquisition of the ready-to-build Karppio battery energy storage system (BESS) project from Helios Nordic Energy. The acquisition was made and the project will be implemented together with Strioga Family Foundation. The Karppio BESS project is located in Teuva, Finland, and has a capacity of 125 MW / 300 MWh. Delta Capacity will lead the remaining development of the project through to commissioning, planned for 2027, and will serve as long-term asset manager. Delta Capacity is a Swiss-based developer of utility scale battery storage systems. The acquisition adds to Delta Capacity’s growing Nordic portfolio. 
Case published 20.7.2026
We advised Swedbank AB (publ) on the refinancing of a large Finnish retail real estate portfolio owned by Trophi’s Finnish subsidiaries. Trophi is the leading Nordic real estate company focusing on grocery anchored retail properties, with 278 properties across Sweden and Finland. Finland is a market that continues to develop and is also strategically important for Trophi, accounting for approximately 30% of Trophi’s letting and property value.
Case published 17.7.2026
We are acting as Finnish legal advisor to HANZA in connection with its acquisition of Fortaco Finland’s heavy mechanics and assembly business. The transaction is structured as a combined asset and share acquisition and includes Fortaco Finland’s heavy mechanics and assembly operations in Finland, as well as shares in two Estonian and two Polish subsidiaries. The transaction is expected to close during the fourth quarter of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals. Founded in 2008, HANZA is a Swedish mechanical engineering and electronics contract manufacturing company listed on the Nasdaq Stockholm main list. HANZA has approximately 5,000 employees and annual sales of SEK 10 billion. We advise HANZA on this transaction in collaboration with the Swedish law firm Lindahl.
Case published 15.7.2026