20.3.2023

The success stories of the future are written by the new generation – C&S awards 40 students with a scholarship

A better and fairer future has always been close to our heart at Castrén & Snellman. During our 135 years of history, we have provided advice in socially important, ground-breaking cases and created opportunities for growth for promising young influencers.

To celebrate our anniversary and as a way to continue supporting those who will build our future, we will hand out 40 Scholarships for the Future.

The Scholarships for the Future are our small encouragement to active and inspirational young people. To students who have shown particular social initiative and strived to make a difference in something close to their heart. To those who use their voice and give their all for a better future. To those who prioritise community over self and who not only dream but also take action.

Will you author the success stories of the future?

The success stories of the future have always been written by the new generation. We are now on the lookout for those who will author our future. Is there an active and inspirational student in your community or faculty who deserves to be seen, heard – and awarded with a scholarship? Could it be you? Let us know!

Half of the scholarships are awarded to students in higher education and half to 9th graders and final-year students in upper secondary school. The secondary school scholarships are handed out directly to schools, and the schools will choose the scholarship recipients without a separate application process.

Students in higher education can apply for the Scholarship for the Future through an application process that is open to law and business majors as well as BBA and MBA students enrolled in Finnish universities or universities of applied sciences. The recipients will be chosen by a scholarship panel that will process all applications anonymously.

To find out more, visit the Scholarship for the Future campaign page.

 

Castrén & Snellman is a growing, international law firm. We are the forerunners of demanding legal services, such as mergers and acquisitions, dispute resolution and all other areas of business law. As the strategic partner for our clients, we enable sustainable success stories that can change the market.

Latest references

We assisted eQ Community Properties Fund in the sale of two healthcare properties to a fund managed by Northern Horizon. The properties have a total floor area of approximately 3,500 square meters. The two properties are located in Espoo and Lahti. The Espoo asset was completed in 2018 and the Lahti asset was completed in 2023. Both assets are operated by Attendo, the leading care provider in the Nordic region.
Case published 9.5.2025
We successfully represented BMW in an exceptionally long dispute over whether the spare rims sold by the defendant and the hub caps included in them infringed BMW’s trademark and design rights. The Market Court found that the sign used by the defendant caused a likelihood of confusion with BMW’s trademarks. The defendant had used the sign on the hub caps and in the marketing of the hub caps and rims, leading the Market Court to find that the defendant had infringed BMW’s trademark rights. The defendant admitted to infringing BMW’s Community design but denied the related injunction claim. However, the Market Court found that there was no particular reason to refrain from issuing an injunction. The Market Court prohibited the defendant from continuing to infringe BMW’s trademarks and Community design and ordered the defendant to alter or destroy the products and marketing materials that infringed BMW’s rights. Furthermore, the Market Court ordered the defendant to pay BMW EUR 70,000 in reasonable compensation and EUR 80,000 in damages for the trademark infringements, as well as EUR 7,000 in reasonable compensation and EUR 8,000 in damages for the design right infringement. The amounts can be considered exceptionally high in Finland. Additionally, the Market Court ordered the defendant to pay a significant portion of BMW’s legal costs with interest on late payment. In its decision of 11 March 2025, the Supreme Court of Finland did not grant the defendant leave to appeal, and also decided that there was no need to seek a preliminary ruling from the Court of Justice of the European Union. Thus, the Market Court’s judgements (MAO:494/18 ja 517/2023) are final. In addition to the main dispute, BMW demanded in a separate proceeding that one of the defendant’s trademark registrations be revoked. A total of three separate legal proceedings were conducted in the Market Court regarding the revocation. The defendant’s trademark registration was ultimately revoked.
Case published 9.5.2025
We are advising DNA Plc in brand protection and intellectual property enforcement matters globally. Our intellectual property team manages DNA’s global trademark portfolio, including registration, prosecution, opposition and enforcement. We also advise DNA in questions concerning consumer and marketing law, unfair competition, social media, domain names and cybersquatting. DNA Plc is one of Finland’s leading telecommunication companies. DNA offers connections, services and devices for homes and workplaces, contributing to the digitalisation of society. The company has approximately 3.7 million subscriptions in its fixed and mobile communications networks. In 2024, DNA’s total revenue was EUR 1,100 million, and the company employs about 1,600 people around Finland. DNA is part of Telenor Group.
Case published 7.5.2025
Castrén & Snellman’s Attorney Christer Svartström acted as the administrator in the restructuring proceedings of Foodiq Oy, which began on 11 March 2024. Foodiq is a unique future food focused company that develops and produces plant and milk-based products for both the private and public sectors. The company’s largest shareholder is a Swedish investment company focusing on FoodTec, Nicoya AB. The majority of creditors approved the draft restructuring programme in expedited proceedings after restructuring proceedings that lasted just under a year. The District Court of Helsinki affirmed the restructuring programme including the one-day payment programme on 10 March 2025 and appointed Attorney Christer Svartström as the supervisor of the programme. In cooperation with the parties, they found an effective and quick restructuring solution for the company, avoiding a long-term programme and allowing the company to focus on its core business. The restructuring programme was financed by investments made by the company’s investors. At the same time, the one-day programme provided a better outcome for creditors compared to a longer programme. The implementation of the restructuring programme ended successfully on 28 March 2025.
Case published 6.5.2025