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 advised Suominen Corporation in connection with its rights issue. The offering was oversubscribed, and the company raised gross proceeds of approximately EUR 28 million. We also advised Suominen in connection with the renegotiation of the terms of the company’s three-year EUR 100 million syndicated credit facility, under which the maturity was extended and headroom was added to the financial covenants. “I would like to thank our shareholders for their support and confidence in Suominen’s future. The completion of the Offering will enable us to accelerate the implementation of our Full Potential Program while strengthening our capital structure. Our transformation particularly focuses on enhancing the reliability and efficiency of our production and supply, and on reinforcing our commercial capabilities, allowing us to better meet the expectations of our customers and shareholders”, comments Charles Héaulmé, President and CEO of Suominen. Suominen is a nonwovens manufacturer operating in global markets. Suominen creates value by taking fiber raw materials and turning them into nonwovens that the company’s customers convert into both consumer and professional end products. Suominen’s vision is to be the frontrunner for nonwovens innovation and sustainability. Suominen’s net sales in 2025 were EUR 412.4 million and the company has almost 700 professionals working in Europe and in the Americas. Suominen’s shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki.
Case published 6.7.2026
We acted as joint legal advisor for Nordea Bank Abp and Avain Yhtiöt in an approximately EUR 48 million financing arrangement which included facilities for refinancing of an existing real estate portfolio and also for acquisition and property development purposes. The financing arrangement strengthens Avain Yhtiöt’s objective to build and maintain a functional, safe and environmentally friendly living environment, as well as to develop the overall quality of housing and construction. Avain Yhtiöt is a Finnish group specialising in housing and housing-related services, construction contracting and new construction. Its goal is to build 1,000 new apartments per year in key growth areas in Finland.
Case published 2.7.2026
We advised the shareholders of Suomen Autohuolto Oy in connection with the sale of the company’s entire share capital, to SAKA Finland Group Oy. Suomen Autohuolto Group is one of Finland’s largest companies specializing in brand-specific automotive maintenance and has locations in Oulu, Tampere, and from July, also in Järvenpää. The transaction is subject to final approval by the Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority (KKV).
Case published 26.6.2026
AI training
We delivered two tailor-made AI workshops for the lawyers at the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke). We discussed the AI revolution and its impact on lawyers’ ways of thinking and working, and left the participants with practical solutions for enhancing and streamlining their work with Legora. Our AI-specialist lawyers prepared use cases tailored to Luke and the needs of public administration, which Luke received for its own use following the workshops. These use cases covered topics such as: utilising legal sources and the organisation’s own data to maximise AI results building and leveraging AI workflows AI-enhanced contract drafting based on a large volume of documents. The workshops sparked wide-ranging discussion on the role and benefits of AI in legal work. Participants appreciated how clearly and comprehensively our experts were able to present the nature and benefits of AI specifically within a legal context. ‘The workshops provided excellent support for Luke’s goal of leveraging AI responsibly and gave us concrete and ready-to-use practical takeaways,’ says Hannu Laitinen, Luke’s Senior Vice President, Administrative Affairs.
Case published 26.6.2026