4.9.2024

Our new partners Topi Lusenius and Marius af Schultén help our clients navigate through major transformations

Digitalisation and the green transition are major transformations that will change both society and the ways to do business in the coming years. Topi Lusenius and Marius af Schultén, the new partners of Castrén & Snellman, advise our clients and help them navigate their business in the midst of these changes.

Topi Lusenius: Technology acquisitions are a touchstone for businesses

‘The technological transformation fundamentally changes the ways to do business. Many customer interfaces are already digital, and the transformation pace keeps accelerating. It has been forecasted that the money spent on digital transformation will double from the current two trillion to four trillion dollars by 2027,’ describes Topi Lusenius, Partner of our Data & Technology service.

In the coming years, businesses will face system upgrades and acquisitions. Topi encourages businesses to approach these projects cautiously, plan them well and investigate the risks carefully.

‘Digital projects should be treated as business transformation projects. Major reforms tend to be vulnerable to delays and other deviations. The budget may have to be increased, and the end product may not meet expectations. It is advisable to prepare for any deviations by carefully drafting the contract and by reserving sufficient financial and human resources for the project,’ Topi advises.

A well-drafted project contract allows for enough freedom but is concrete at the same time. The contract should clearly define project responsibilities, timetables and budget. A high-quality contract helps the project organisation to lead the project and to address any shortcomings if necessary.

‘At best, the contract enables the project organisation to focus on what matters most, in other words leading the project and engaging users at different phases of development,’ Topi summarises.

Topi Lusenius has a long and varied experience in technology and contract law. He advises domestic and international companies on cross-border projects such as digital transformation, outsourcing, product development, technology-driven M&A transactions, venture capital and litigation.

Marius af Schultén: The opportunities of the green transition should be leveraged in full

During the past two years, the green transition has raced forward in Europe. Key questions for the coming years are renewable energy, storage of electricity and increasing the production of green hydrogen.

‘Investors are currently interested in the possibilities of renewable energy, and Finland is among the most attractive investment targets. This opportunity should now be leveraged in full as the demand for renewable energy will significantly increase in the coming years,’ explains Marius af Schultén, Partner of our Environment, Energy & Green Transition service.

The demand for renewable energy will be increased by the EU’s ambitious climate objectives as well as by the goal-oriented expansion of green hydrogen production capacity. ‘The EU has been determined about driving green hydrogen production forward, and the regulatory environment is constantly evolving. However, large-scale production requires significant investments and achieving satisfactory investment security requires a large and sufficiently steady output of green electricity. While there is interest towards Finland, the opportunity should now be seized to remain one of the forerunners in the development of clean energies.’

Green transition regulation is constantly evolving, and to succeed in the competitive market, energy companies need to continuously analyse the operating environment and monitor changes in legislation.

‘A strategic partner knows the operating environment thoroughly and can therefore help predict changes and plan projects. The special characteristics of the project’s or investment’s target country always have an impact on how the project progresses, which means that local knowledge is particularly valuable. As a full-service office, we can help companies at every stage of green transition projects,’ Marius summarises.

Marius af Schultén is an experienced expert in environmental law. He has a long and extensive experience as a strategic advisor to domestic and international energy and infrastructure project developers, investors, funds and financial institutions, in particular on renewable energy projects and their development.

Latest references

Castrén & Snellman acted as legal advisor to Suomen Aurinkovoima Oy and its owners in a financing tender process and a financing arrangement implemented with Danske Bank to secure financing for the company’s future solar park projects. Suomen Aurinkovoima, established by Oulun Seudun Sähkö, Oulun Energia, Vantaan Energia and Savon Voima, is a company focused on increasing domestic solar power. The company manages solar park projects from planning to implementation and maintenance, and its goal is to build dozens of new solar parks across Finland by 2030.
Case published 22.10.2025
We advised DNB Bank ASA in its agreement with Fennia Mutual Insurance Company on the development and lease of the premises at Fabianinkatu 8, Helsinki. With the lease agreement, DNB Bank ASA will focus all its Finnish operations at the Fabian 8 office. The other tenants at the renewed premises will be DNB Carnegie Investment Bank AB’s Finnish operations and DNB Auto Finance Oy. In connection with the long-term lease agreement, the parties also agreed on a major renovation project to completely refurbish the premises. The object of lease will be completed in the second half of 2027.
Case published 10.10.2025
We advised Yellow Film Studios, the largest independent film and television production company in the Nordics, in its strategic merger with Danish film industry sales and financing studio REinvent Studios. Together they form Reinvent Yellow, a unified hub for television and film production, sales, financing and innovation, combining over three decades of production experience and a vast catalogue of titles.
Case published 8.10.2025
We successfully represented a panel of reinsurance companies in an international ad hoc arbitration. The dispute arose out of a reinsurance treaty under the terms of which the reinsurers had reinsured a portfolio of risks underwritten by the cedent. The parties disagreed as to whether the reinsurance provided coverage for a certain loss that had occurred because of the market turmoil caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The case involved highly complex legal and contractual questions requiring special expertise on reinsurance law and practice. The arbitral tribunal rejected the counterparty’s claims for reinsurance compensation against our clients in full. The amount in dispute was approximately EUR 34 million.
Case published 16.9.2025