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
A. Ahlström Real Estate – Acquisition of an office complex
We advised A. Ahlström Real Estate Ltd in its acquisition of an office complex in Pasila, Helsinki, from Avain Yhtiöt Oy. The office complex is part of a new block area that will also include three tower blocks. Construction of the block has started in early 2025 and the office building is expected to be completed by the end of 2026. The office building is located in Central Pasila, in the immediate vicinity of the Tripla shopping centre, with excellent transport connections. The office will provide modern and adaptable office space for up to 450 employees. The anchor tenant in the new premises is Avain Yhtiöt. A. Ahlström Real Estate manages the real estate and forest assets of A. Ahlström Oy. Avain Yhtiöt is a Finnish housing provider specialising in developing, constructing, and managing residential properties and housing services. Under the Avain Asunnot brand, Avain Yhtiöt and Avain Asumisoikeus own over 12,000 rental, right-of-occupancy, and service housing units across Finland.
Case published 18.3.2025
OP Corporate Bank – Real estate financing arrangement
We advised OP Corporate Bank plc in a real estate financing arrangement relating to DHL Express logistics centre under construction near Helsinki Airport. In the arrangement Nrep (acting on behalf of NSF III Fund) and Pontos Group acquired Finavia’s stake of DHL Express logistics centre under construction. LEED Platinum certification will be applied for the project, and as a result of the certification, the facility is contemplated to qualify as a green loan after the construction completion date.
Case published 12.3.2025
Gasum – Chartering a new bunker vessel
We advised Gasum in chartering a new LNG and bio-LNG bunker vessel. The vessel called Celsius will serve Gasum’s customers starting 2027. The investment is part of Gasum’s strategy to secure the availability of LNG and bio-LNG to its customers in the Northwestern European area as demand increases in the coming years. Gasum is a Nordic gas sector and energy market expert. Gasum offers cleaner energy and energy market expert services for industry and for combined heat and power production as well as cleaner fuel solutions for road and maritime transport. The company helps its customers to reduce their own carbon footprint as well as that of their customers. Sirius is a Swedish shipping company founded by the Backman family. Sirius operates 11 product/chemical tankers and 2 LNG tankers and has a further 3 product/chemical tankers under commercial management.
Case published 11.3.2025
Castren & Snellman Ebrands funding round
eBrands – Funding round
We assisted eBrands Holdings Oy in its latest funding round, during which the company raised 7.5 million euros. The new funding brings the company’s total raised capital to 50 million euros. The latest funding round was mainly led by the family investment company Veikko Laine, Varma Pension Fund, and operational shareholders. The funding will be used to develop eBrands’ AI-based Apollo market growth tool, which helps brands expand into sixty different markets and sales channels without local infrastructure or heavy investments. eBrands is an export platform that grows consumer brands globally through e-commerce and major retail channels. Specializing in the US and European markets, eBrands enables brands to internationalize with an export service model that reduces the risk and complexity associated with expansion by leveraging advanced technology. Founded in 2020, the Helsinki-based company’s team includes 75 people, and the company’s revenue exceeds 35 million euros.
Case published 11.3.2025
Nrep – EUR 100 million construction project in Herttoniemi, Helsinki
We advised the real estate investor and developer Nrep in a EUR 100 million construction project in Helsinki, which combines build-to-rent housing and care homes within the one scheme. A fund managed by Nrep (NSF V) purchased the plot of land in Herttoniemi, Helsinki and subsequently secured planning consent to deliver a hybrid living scheme. The modern complex will offer high-quality housing and care facilities for the elderly alongside rental accommodation. We advised Nrep in both the purchase of the plot and the contracting of the care and housing complex. A total of 425 apartments and 108 care homes will be delivered across four buildings on the site. Construction is scheduled to begin in autumn 2025, with delivery targeted in 2028. The project will be implemented in accordance with Nrep’s principles of sustainable construction. The buildings will be equipped with solar panels, geothermal heat will be used throughout, and low-emission green concrete and steel will be used as materials. 
Case published 6.3.2025
Ugly Duckling Ventures – Investment in Skyfora
We represented Ugly Duckling Ventures in the EUR 4 million seed funding round of Skyfora. The investment will support the deployment of Skyfora’s advanced weather intelligence solutions, including their state-of-the-art Telecom GNSS Meteorology solutions. Ugly Duckling Ventures led the funding round alongside LUMO Labs, and other investors included, among others, Voima Ventures and EIC Fund. Ugly Duckling Ventures is a venture capital fund based in Copenhagen, Denmark, that focuses on seed and pre-seed stage investments in Nordic ventures. Skyfora is a Finnish weather intelligence company that provides next-generation AI-powered weather forecasting and data collection solutions. Their innovative Telecom GNSS Meteorology solutions are designed for optimizing the performance of AI weather forecasts improving global climate change resilience and weather-insight across industries.
Case published 4.3.2025

Get to know our other experts in the field

Kim Parviainen
Position: Partner
Primary service Intellectual Property
 +358 40 568 2766
Sakari Salonen
Position: Partner
Primary service Intellectual Property
 +358 50 336 0209
Tiina Orre
Position: Counsel
Primary service Intellectual Property
 +358 20 776 5261
Piia Raappana
Position: Counsel
Primary service Intellectual Property
 +358 40 726 1355
Hilma-Karoliina Rozell
Position: Counsel
Primary service Intellectual Property
 +358 40 566 7256
Karla Kallela
Position: Associate
Primary service Intellectual Property
 +358 40 842 8862
Janne Koivisto
Position: Associate
Primary service Intellectual Property
 +358 45 238 0373
Katri Kiviniemi
Position: European Trademark and Design Attorney
Primary service Intellectual Property
 +358 50 572 5003
Anne Laukkasuo
Position: European Trademark and Design Attorney
Primary service Intellectual Property
 +358 40 725 9724
Nina Mikander
Position: Head of IP Prosecution, European Trademark and Design Attorney
Primary service Intellectual Property
 +358 40 093 0778