Juha Aalto-Setälä

Associate, Master of Laws

Services

  1. Intellectual Property
  2. Data & Technology

Contact details

I assist both domestic and international clients in various assignments related to intellectual property and technology.

I graduated as a Master of Laws from the University of Helsinki in 2023, and I also have a Master in Music degree from Sibelius Academy, University of the Arts. Before joining Castrén & Snellman, I gained experience working in education and as a musician, among other things. I am interested in intellectual property rights in general, and in particular in copyrights, on which I wrote my master’s thesis.

Latest references

Arctic Biomaterials – Patent litigation over bioactive biomaterials for orthopedic implants
We successfully represented Arctic Biomaterials Oy before the Finnish Market Court in an extensive dispute concerning alleged patent infringement and invalidity of the patent-in-suit. Our client has invented next-generation bioabsorbable composites that are engineered with Arctic Biomaterials’ X3 bioactive natural mineral fibers, offering robust, bioactive reinforcement for orthopedic implants. These advanced composites empower customers to create high-strength bioabsorbable solutions for the most demanding applications. Back in 2019, Purac Biochem B.V. alleged, among other things, that our client’s Evolvecomp product had infringed Purac Biochem B.V.’s European patent validated in Finland protecting a biocompatible composite and its use. Purac Biochem B.V. filed a preliminary injunction against our client under the Act on Securing the Provision of Evidence in Civil Cases Concerning Industrial Property Rights and Copyright (344/2000). The Finnish Market Court issued an ex-parte injunction against our client on 2 April 2019 (MAO:150/19) and a final injunction on 19 February 2020 (MAO:59/20). Our client had disputed Purac Biochem B.V.’s patent infringement claim from the beginning and claimed that the patent-in-suit was invalid. After five years of litigation, the Finnish Market Court handed down a ruling in the joined invalidity and infringement cases on 10 October 2024 (MAO:560/2024 and MAO:561/2024) declaring Purac Biochem B.V.’s patent invalid and dismissing Purac’s infringement action against Arctic Biomaterials. Also, the preliminary injunction based on an alleged patent infringement imposed against Arctic Biomaterials was cancelled. The Market Court declared Purac Biochem B.V.’s patent invalid due to a lack of inventive step. The Market Court applied the could-would method for determining whether the patent-in-suit is inventive or not. The could-would method is based on determining whether a person skilled in the art would (not simply could, but would) have made a specific improvement to prior solutions, based on the available prior art. The Market Court ruled that it would have been obvious to a person skilled in the art to solve the objective technical problem of the patent-in-suit in the manner presented in claim 1, using as a starting point the closest prior art (prior patent publication) and combining it with the teaching of another prior art publication. The decision is final.
Case published 29.1.2025
Fortum – Sale of recycling and waste business
We acted as the lead counsel to Fortum in a cross-border transaction in which Fortum sold its recycling and waste business. The business was sold to thematic impact investing firm Summa Equity through its portfolio company NG Group. The debt-free purchase price is approximately EUR 800 million.  Fortum’s recycling and waste business to be sold comprises municipal and industrial waste management and end-to-end plastics, metals, ash, slag and hazardous waste treatment and recycling services. These businesses are located in Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Norway and currently employ approximately 900 employees.
Case published 18.7.2024
Inventure – Investment in Hamina Wireless
We advised the lead investor Inventure on the seed funding round of Hamina Wireless. Superhero Capital and First Fellow participated in the round as co-investors. Hamina Wireless, founded in 2021, provides tools for fast and simple wireless network design. The platform offered by the company is equipped with tools that aid in the creation of wireless networks, inclusive of Wi-Fi 6E and CBRS. It also includes automation tools for the design of switching, cabling, and IDFs/MDFs. This platform enables design engineers to construct networks that ensure optimal coverage and overlap, minimal interference, maximum capacity, and seamless roaming. Inventure is an early-stage VC investor that that been in venture with over 90 companies ranging from deep tech to consumer internet brands, including Wolt, Swappie, Stravito and Jobbatical. With its EUR 377 million of assets under management, Inventure focuses on Seed and Series A investments across Nordics and Baltics, with offices in Helsinki and Stockholm.
Case published 18.7.2025
Nevel – Acquisition of Labio’s business
We advised Nevel Oy in its acquisition of the business of Labio Oy. Lahti Aqua Oy and Salpakierto Oy sold their entire shareholdings in Labio to Nevel, expanding Nevel’s already significant biogas portfolio. The transaction will have no impact on Lahti Aqua’s water utility operations or Salpakierto’s municipal waste management responsibilities. Labio’s operations and customer relationships will continue as before. ‘This partnership is a natural next step for us as we continue investing in sustainable material efficiency and renewable energy solutions. By integrating Labio’s comprehensive offerings and expertise, we can provide customers with a strong platform for material circularity. We are also strengthening our market position as one of Finland’s leading material efficiency solution providers,’ says Ville Koikkalainen, Director of Industrial and Biogas Business at Nevel. Nevel is an energy infrastructure company offering advanced, climate-positive solutions for industry and real estate. It operates more than 130 energy production plants and manages over 40 district heating networks. Nevel’s annual turnover is EUR 150 million, and it employs 190 experts in Finland, Sweden and Estonia.
Case published 16.7.2025
Nordea Bank – EUR 150 million new green financing
We advised Nordea Bank Abp in the EUR 150 million new green financing for Lahti Energia Oy to support investments promoting a clean transition and to refinance existing loans. Lahti Energia Oy’s green loan investments focus on solutions that reduce fossil carbon dioxide emissions and support sustainable development. Planned projects include electric boilers, district heating storage facilities, and investments in the development of energy networks.
Case published 1.7.2025
Netel Group – Sale of Finnish Operations
We advised Netel Group, a Nasdaq Stockholm-listed contracting company, on the sale of its Finnish operations, Netel Oy, to a group of private investors. The divestment forms part of Netel Group’s strategic realignment. In January 2025, Netel Group announced its decision to exit the Finnish market in order to concentrate on its core markets in Sweden and Norway and growth markets in Germany and the UK. Netel Group is a leading provider of services in the development and maintenance of critical infrastructure within Infraservices, Power and Telecom across Northern Europe. The company has been listed on Nasdaq Stockholm since 2021.
Case published 1.7.2025
Glaston – Reverse share split
We advised Glaston Corporation on its reverse share split, i.e. in the reduction of its total outstanding shares so that each two shares of the company were merged into one share. The shares of Glaston have been listed into the Helsinki Stock Exchange. Glaston is the glass processing industry’s innovative technology leader supplying equipment, services and solutions to the architectural, mobility, display and solar industries. The company also supports the development of new technologies integrating intelligence to glass.
Case published 27.6.2025
OP-Public Services Real Estate Fund – Sale of six care properties
We advised OP-Public Services Real Estate Fund in the sale of a portfolio of six care properties to Aedifica group, a Belgian real estate company specialised in European healthcare real estate, particularly in elderly care. The care properties in this portfolio are located across Finland in Helsinki, Tampere, Kuopio, Tuusula and Kirkkonummi. The portfolio has a total capacity for 233 residents. Aedifica group acquired 100% of the shares of the six real estate companies that own the properties. The total value of the transaction is approximately EUR 37.5 million.
Case published 26.6.2025

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