12.5.2026

Restructuring and Insolvency expert Elina Pesonen appointed as Partner at Castrén & Snellman

Castrén & Snellman has appointed Counsel Elina Pesonen as a new partner to its Restructuring & Insolvency practice as of 1 February 2027. Her appointment reinforces the firm’s leading position as a trusted advisor in complex insolvency and corporate restructuring matters as well as in domestic and cross-border distressed transactions.

‘Welcoming Elina Pesonen to Castrén & Snellman’s partnership is a natural step that further strengthens our Restructuring & Insolvency team and our transactional work. Elina has built a strong and well-deserved reputation in the Finnish market, and beyond. She is known for her strategic, yet pragmatic approach and impressive business understanding, a combination that our clients genuinely value,’ says Jarno Tanhuanpää, Castrén & Snellman’s Managing Partner.

A seasoned insolvency lawyer and a highly regarded project leader

Elina joined Castrén & Snellman in 2011 and has since become one of Finland’s most recognised restructuring and insolvency specialists. She has played a part in some of the country’s most complex insolvency proceedings and distressed transactions.

‘Elina is a key player in many of our firm’s most significant client engagements. She brings together formidable expertise with a hands-on mentality and in-depth knowledge regarding all the applicable legislation – qualities that set her apart in the most demanding client cases. In addition, she is a highly regarded colleague and project leader, praised for her calm, structured and solution-oriented way of working,’ says Partner Pauliina Tenhunen, Head of Insolvency & Restructuring.

In addition to insolvency proceedings, Elina regularly advises boards of directors in corporate crisis situations, handles creditor mandates and assists clients in managing insolvency-related contractual risks. She also acts as liquidator in voluntary liquidation proceedings and has extensive experience in international restructurings. Elina is actively involved in the international insolvency community, holding leadership positions in both INSOL Europe and the Finnish Insolvency Law Association (FILA).

Elina looks forward to supporting our clients even more comprehensively in her new role:

‘I am excited and proud to be appointed as a partner at Castrén & Snellman. Our full-service approach provides an excellent foundation for meeting the diverse needs of our clients in this constantly changing and challenging economy. I am committed to developing our restructuring and insolvency offering further, and continuing to be a reliable and solution-focused advisor for our clients in my new role.’

Chambers Europe has ranked Elina among Finland’s leading insolvency and restructuring lawyers, and in 2025, she was recognised as Female Estate Administrator of the Year by the Finnish Insolvency Law Association. 

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