Iris Brisson

Senior Associate, Member of the Finnish Bar

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

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
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
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
We advised Nala Renewables on the Finnish law aspects of the development, acquisition and financing of its battery energy storage system (BESS) project in Vuolijoki, Finland. The project comprises a 125 MW / 250 MWh battery energy storage system. Our advice extended beyond financing to the transaction’s legal due diligence and the acquisition of the project company. We also advised on key project contracts and financing documentation for the project finance facilities provided by Coöperatieve Rabobank U.A. The project is part of Nala Renewables’ growing portfolio of battery storage assets in Finland and the wider Nordic region, supporting the integration of renewable energy and contributing to the flexibility and stability of the Finnish electricity grid.
Case published 3.11.2026
We advised Foundation Clinic in connection with its funding round backed by a group of prominent Finnish technology entrepreneurs and investors, including founders behind Supercell and Wolt. Foundation Clinic is a Finnish healthcare company developing a new approach to private healthcare focused on preventive, data-driven and continuous care. The company aims to combine comprehensive health data with ongoing medical care to identify and address health risks at an early stage.
Case published 29.10.2026
We advised Delta Capacity AG in a project financing of two battery energy storage systems (BESS). The financed projects are among the largest BESS developments in Finland to enter construction with 250 MW / 600 MWh combined capacity. The financing was provided by Société Générale with support from Finnvera. Construction of both projects, located in Lapinlahti and Teuva, has already begun and the commercial operations are targeted to commence in late 2027 with partial tolling agreements already in place for both assets. The project in Lapinlahti is executed in partnership with Covenergo, while the project in Teuva is executed in partnership with Strioga Family Foundation. Delta Capacity is a Swiss developer of utility-scale battery storage systems. The projects strengthen Delta Capacity’s growing Nordic portfolio and support the flexibility of Finland’s electricity system by adding energy storage capacity, enabling production optimization as well as participation in electricity markets and reserve services.
Case published 28.10.2026
We acted as legal adviser to Martela Corporation in its directed share issue, through which Martela raised gross proceeds of approximately EUR 7.2 million to strengthen the company’s financial position and liquidity and to create headroom for continuing the necessary development and efficiency measures. In connection with the directed share issue, Martela’s unlisted series K shares, which carried greater voting rights, were combined with its listed series A shares. Following the combination, the company has only one share series, which is traded on the regulated market maintained by Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd, with each share carrying one vote and otherwise identical rights. Martela is a Nordic leader specialising in user-centric working and learning environments. With over 80 years of experience, Martela creates the best places to work and offers its customers the Martela Lifecycle solutions which combine furniture and related services into a seamless whole.
Case published 27.10.2026
We acted as legal adviser to Banyan Software on its acquisition of Carus Ferry, a Finland-based provider of reservation, check-in and port operations software for ferry and passenger shipping operators. The acquisition further strengthens Banyan Software’s presence in the Nordic region while providing Carus with a long-term partner to support its continued growth and development. Carus was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Mariehamn on the Åland Islands, Finland. The company develops mission-critical software for ferry, cruise and passenger shipping operators, covering the full passenger journey from booking and ticketing to capacity management, check-in and boarding. Carus also provides port automation, onboard sales systems and business information tools. The company serves approximately 30 operators across four continents and is the largest vendor by customer count in ferry reservation and departure control. Banyan Software is an acquirer and long-term operator of mission-critical software businesses serving specialised industries. Founded in 2016, Banyan follows a buy-and-hold-for-life approach and supports the long-term growth and development of its portfolio companies. Banyan operates more than 130 portfolio companies across North and South America, the United Kingdom, Europe and APAC. Following the acquisition of Carus, Banyan operates three businesses in the Nordic region.
Case published 20.10.2026

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