19.10.2017

Tuomas Lehtinen Invited to Serve as First Professor of Practice in Advocacy

Castrén & Snellman Partner and Doctor of Laws Tuomas Lehtinen has been invited to serve as professor of practice in advocacy in the University of Helsinki starting on 1 January 2018. This professorship is unique, as it is the first of its kind in the world. It is a part-time position and the appointment is for five years. Tuomas will continue with his full workload as a partner at Castrén & Snellman throughout this time.

Tuomas’ duties as a professor will include teaching and research in the field of advocacy law in Finnish law faculties. The professorship will also support the teaching of procedural law in Finnish universities. Arbitration and mediation proceedings have become an ever more important form of dispute resolution alongside traditional court proceedings, and attorneys play a key role in all of these types of processes.

‘ I am very grateful to have been invited to serve as a professor in this internationally respected, top-tier university. The university is a familiar working environment for me, and I feel privileged and excited to be party to the development of an entirely new and valuable discipline in the University of Helsinki’, says Tuomas.

Tuomas is a very experienced attorney who helps Castrén & Snellman’s clients in contract law issues related to international construction and projects, dispute resolution and banking. Tuomas is a doctor of laws and a docent in contract law and international trade law at the University of Turku. He is highly experienced in representing clients in dispute proceedings in both civil courts and arbitration institutes.

Castrén & Snellman’s Managing Partner Sakari Lukinmaa wishes Tuomas success in this trailblazing position.

‘This professorship is a great honour for Tuomas, but also for our firm. Our clients know Tuomas as a very experienced, high-calibre expert who puts his whole heart into the demanding work of an attorney. This makes Tuomas an excellent choice for professor of practice in advocacy. We wish him great success in this new role and believe that it will also provide us with a great opportunity to develop the day-to-day work of attorneys in our firm.’

For more information, please contact:
Tuomas Lehtinen, Partner, Professor of Practice in Advocacy
Sakari Lukinmaa, Managing Partner

Latest references

We advised Oomi Solar Oy on the sale of a solar power park and battery energy storage project to Tuulipolar Oy. The transaction concerned a 24 MWp solar power plant and a 36 MW / 70 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) to be constructed in Tornio. Tuulipolar Oy will act as the owner and operator of the plant, while Oomi Solar Oy will be responsible for its design and construction. The project will form the world’s northernmost industrial hybrid power plant, contributing to Finland’s green energy transition by increasing renewable energy production and electricity storage capacity in Northern Finland. The hybrid solution enables optimization of production as well as active participation in electricity markets and reserve services, improving the project’s profitability and supporting the balance of the electricity system year-round. Electricity production from the hybrid plant is expected to begin in 2028. Oomi Solar Oy is a Finnish renewable energy expert with experience from nearly 200 MW of installed solar capacity. The company helps businesses and communities accelerate the green transition by offering comprehensive solutions, including solar power plants, energy storage systems, and related lifecycle services from project development to maintenance. Oomi Solar Oy employs more than 20 energy professionals and delivers solar power projects across Finland. The company’s vision is to be Finland’s most desired partner for solar energy and energy solutions.
Case published 5.6.2026
United Bankers – Sale of three care properties
We advised United Bankers on the sale of three care properties to Kinland AS. The buildings were completed between 2021 and 2022 and meet high technical and environmental standards. All three properties are fully leased. The portfolio has a weighted average unexpired lease term of 13 years.
Case published 1.6.2026
Hiab acquisition financing
We are advising Hiab Corporation in the financing for its USD 1,035 million acquisition of Labrie Environmental Group, a leading North American refuse collection vehicle (“RCV”) manufacturer, from Wynnchurch Capital, L.P. Hiab Corporation (Nasdaq Helsinki: HIAB) is a leading provider of smart and sustainable on-road load handling solutions, with 2025 sales of approximately EUR 1.6 billion and approximately 4,000 employees, operating through a global network spanning over 100 countries. Labrie Group is a leading North American provider of RCVs, employing approximately 1,200 people. 
Case published 1.6.2026
We advised an international bank syndicate in a EUR 300 million revolving credit facility (RCF) for ICEYE, the world leader in sovereign intelligence from space. The bank-syndicate comprised Nordic and global banks, with Citi and Danske Bank acting as Joint Global Coordinators and Mandated Lead Arrangers. The RCF will support the issuance of guarantees for customer contracts, enable continued business growth, and serve as a liquidity backstop. 
Case published 21.5.2026