Iris Brisson

Senior Associate, Member of the Finnish Bar

Services

  1. Dispute Resolution

Contact details

I advise our clients in assignments relating to dispute resolution. My main areas of practice are domestic and international court and arbitration proceedings.

Prior to joining Castrén & Snellman, I worked as an associate with the dispute resolution team of another Finnish law firm and as an in-house lawyer for a global company manufacturing mobile phones. During my studies, I gained valuable work experience by working as a trainee at reputable Finnish law firms and by completing an internship with one of the case management teams of the ICC International Court of Arbitration in Paris.

I hold a Master of Laws degree from the University of Helsinki.

Latest references

VR – Supreme Court decision clarifies working time practices
We successfully represented VR Group before the Supreme Court in a case concerning the meal break practice of commuter train drivers. On 6 February 2026, the Supreme Court ruled in VR’s favour (decision KKO:2026:12), confirming that VR had the right to amend the commuter train drivers’ meal break practice in 2021 by rendering the break unpaid in accordance with the applicable collective agreement. This decision clarifies the interpretation of collective agreements and employment legislation as well as the limits of the employer’s right to direct work. Over 250 commuter train drivers challenged the unpaid meal break practice which VR introduced in April 2021. Before the change, meal breaks had a long history of being paid. The change was based on the train drivers’ collective agreement, which allows for meal breaks to be organised either as paid or unpaid time. The Supreme Court ruled that the scheduling and managing of breaks falls within the core area of the employer’s right to direct work. This increases the threshold for an established practice becoming a binding condition for the parties. Merely following a practice consistently and over a long period of time does not make the practice binding; instead, the employer’s intent to commit to the practice must be clearly evident from the employer’s conduct or other circumstances. As both alternatives – paid and unpaid – for organising meal breaks had been retained in the collective agreement despite other amendments over the years, it could not be considered that VR had intended to commit to the paid break practice and waive its right to direct work as regards break scheduling. It was also significant that the employment contracts explicitly referred only to the collective agreement as regards working time. The Supreme Court deemed that the employees’ paid meal break was not an established term of employment and that VR was entitled to change the practice based on the collective agreement. The employer had the right, by virtue of its right to direct work, to unilaterally change the meal break practice by choosing to apply the other arrangement permitted by the collective agreement.
Case published 3.3.2026
Energy company – Dispute arising from an energy supply agreement
We represent a major energy company in arbitration. The dispute has arisen out of a long-term energy supply agreement and the value of the claims is approximately EUR 33 million.
Case published 19.9.2023
Excelerate Energy – Chartering an FSRU to Finland
We advised Excelerate Energy on the conclusion of a lease agreement with Gasgrid Finland Oy for the Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) Exemplar. The Inkoo LNG terminal project will have a significant impact on securing the supply of gas to Finland and Estonia as imports of pipeline gas from Russia cease. The Exemplar is the first FSRU in Finland and the Inkoo LNG terminal project is legally unique. Moreover, the project, which is critical for Finland’s and the Baltics’ gas supply, was completed in an exceptionally short timeframe. Our experts assisted the company in a wide range of areas including contracts, energy legislation, licensing, labour law, taxation and structuring.
Case published 9.6.2023
Downing – Acquisition of the entire share capital of Tornionlaakson Voima
We advised UK-based investment company Downing in its acquisition of the entire share capital of Tornionlaakson Voima Oy. Tornionlaakson Voima owns three hydropower plants in the Tengeliönjoki river system – the Portimokoski power plants in Ylitornio, the Jolmankoski power plants in Raanujärvi and the Kaaranneskoski power plants in Sirkkakoski. The power plants produce a total of approx. 45 gigawatt-hours of electricity per year. Tornionlaakson Voima’s daily operations will continue normally, and the transaction will not affect customers. The consummation of the transaction is subject to the approval of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. Downing has over 35 years’ experience in providing a wide range of investment solutions to the needs of institutional investors, advisers and retail investors. The company manages over £2 billion in assets in both the private and public markets and its current hydro power portfolio includes approx. 50 hydro power plants in the Nordics. 
Case published 27.3.2026
CapMan Infra’s portfolio company Koiviston Auto Group – EUR 300 million refinancing
We advised CapMan Infra’s portfolio company Koiviston Auto Group, Finland’s largest bus operator, in a finance arrangement in which it completed an approximately EUR 300 million refinancing. The transaction consists of the refinancing of the Group’s existing senior debt and secures long-term growth financing to support the Group’s continued investments in its rapidly expanding electric bus fleet. The financing package has been provided by a group of lenders consisting of Nord/LB, ABN AMRO, Edmond de Rothschild, LBP AM and Siemens. The transaction strengthens Koiviston Auto’s funding base and provides significant flexibility to execute the company’s growth strategy focused on sustainable public transportation. CapMan Nordic Infrastructure I acquired Koiviston Auto in December 2021 to support its expansion and operational development. The Group now serves communities nationwide and is at the forefront of the transition to zero-emission public transport in Finland. It operates approximately 300 electric buses, with more than 50 additional electric buses expected to be deployed into traffic during 2026, further accelerating the electrification of its fleet. “The successful completion of this refinancing marks an important milestone for Koiviston Auto Group,” says Henrik Mikkola, CEO of Koiviston Auto Group. “The strong support from a diversified group of high-quality lenders underlines the robustness of our business and our long-term strategy. This financing allows us to continue investing in electric mobility and to provide reliable, sustainable and high-quality public transport services across Finland.” “Koiviston Auto Group plays a key role in the green transition of public transportation in Finland,” comments Ville Poukka, Managing Partner at CapMan Infra. “This refinancing significantly strengthens the company’s financial platform and enables continued investments into electric buses at scale. We are pleased to see strong lender confidence in the company’s strategy, operational performance and long-term growth prospects.”
Case published 25.3.2026
Fingrid – Update of EMTN Programme
We advised Fingrid Oyj on the Finnish law aspects in the update of a EUR 3,000,000 Euro Medium Term Note programme (EMTN). Notes issued under the programme may be listed on the Irish Stock Exchange. Fingrid operates Finland’s main electricity transmission grid and all significant cross-border transmission connections. The main grid is the backbone of the electricity transmission network, to which major power plants, industrial plants and regional electricity distribution networks are connected.
Case published 17.3.2026
Jensen-Group – Acquisition of Vestek
We advised Jensen-Group with its acquisition of Oy Vestek Ab, the long-standing distributor of Jensen solutions in Finland. The strategic step underlines Jensen-Group’s long-term commitment to the Nordic region and its ambition to further expand sustainable and future-oriented laundry automation solutions in Finland. Jensen-Group, listed on Euronext Brussels, is a global leader in heavy‑duty laundry technology, known for designing and manufacturing industrial laundry machines, systems, and turnkey automation solutions. Oy Vestek Ab is a Finnish import company founded in 1961. The company’s main activity is to import supplies and machinery, including providing products and services for the health care and laundry industries, from Europe and the USA and to act as a wholesale dealer on the Finnish market.
Case published 16.3.2026
Fortum – AI workshop
We delivered two AI workshops for Fortum Corporation’s Mergers and Acquisitions team, with both legal and business professionals participating. The sessions combined fundamental AI principles with custom use cases for commercially available AI tools tailored to Fortum’s needs. We also presented a bespoke solution merging AI with a script-based tool developed by our Legal Tech team, enabling a more automated way of working. Our experts conducted the training drawing on their legal background and leading experience in this emerging field of legal technology. Participants particularly appreciated the clarity and relevance of the implementations demonstrated. ‘C&S delivered an excellent, well-structured series of workshops, with directly applicable takeaways,’ says Sabina Hautaviita, Legal Counsel for M&A at Fortum.
Case published 9.3.2026

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