Kim Parviainen

Finnish Motor Insurers’ Centre – Precedent concerning patient data processing and repeal of administrative fine

The Supreme Administrative Court (SAC) issued a significant precedent (decision KHO:2025:23) in a case in which it found that the Finnish Motor Insurers’ Centre (Liikennevakuutuskeskus, LVK) processed patient data in accordance with the requirements concerning fairness, data minimisation, and privacy by design and by default when deciding on compensation claims. We represented LVK in this case in which the SAC upheld the Administrative Court’s decision to repeal the EUR 52,000 administrative fine imposed on LVK by the Sanctions Board of the Office of the Data Protection Ombudsman. The SAC also confirmed the Administrative Court’s decision, which, as far as we know, was the first of its kind in Finland, ordering the Office of the Data Protection Ombudsman to reimburse some of our client’s legal costs. The decision bears great significance for the insurance industry as a whole. The crux of the matter were LVK’s information requests under the Motor Liability Insurance Act for patient data that were essential in determining insurance or compensation claims. In certain cases, making a decision may require extensive patient data. The Office of the Data Protection Ombudsman had found that LVK had systematically made overly broad information requests infringing Articles 5 and 25 of the GDPR and that the information should have been provided in the form of separate medical opinions. The Administrative Court repealed the Data Protection Ombudsman’s decision and found that patient records from medical appointments are, as a general rule, essential in establishing causality in compensation matters. It also stated that the tasks related to the consideration of compensation matters are specifically the core tasks of the insurance company and not of the controller of patient data. Furthermore, the Administrative Court found no evidence indicating that LVK would have systematically made overly broad information requests. ‘Once again, our collaboration with C&S was seamless throughout this extensive process, and we could trust that our case was in expert hands’, says Visa Kronbäck, Chief Legal Officer of the Insurance Centre. The full decision is available on the SAC website (in Finnish): KHO:2025:23.

18.6.2025

BMW AG – Enforcement of BMW’s trademark and design rights

We successfully represented BMW in an exceptionally long dispute over whether the spare rims sold by the defendant and the hub caps included in them infringed BMW’s trademark and design rights. The Market Court found that the sign used by the defendant caused a likelihood of confusion with BMW’s trademarks. The defendant had used the sign on the hub caps and in the marketing of the hub caps and rims, leading the Market Court to find that the defendant had infringed BMW’s trademark rights. The defendant admitted to infringing BMW’s Community design but denied the related injunction claim. However, the Market Court found that there was no particular reason to refrain from issuing an injunction. The Market Court prohibited the defendant from continuing to infringe BMW’s trademarks and Community design and ordered the defendant to alter or destroy the products and marketing materials that infringed BMW’s rights. Furthermore, the Market Court ordered the defendant to pay BMW EUR 70,000 in reasonable compensation and EUR 80,000 in damages for the trademark infringements, as well as EUR 7,000 in reasonable compensation and EUR 8,000 in damages for the design right infringement. The amounts can be considered exceptionally high in Finland. Additionally, the Market Court ordered the defendant to pay a significant portion of BMW’s legal costs with interest on late payment. In its decision of 11 March 2025, the Supreme Court of Finland did not grant the defendant leave to appeal, and also decided that there was no need to seek a preliminary ruling from the Court of Justice of the European Union. Thus, the Market Court’s judgements (MAO:494/18 and 517/2023) are final. In addition to the main dispute, BMW demanded in a separate proceeding that one of the defendant’s trademark registrations be revoked. A total of three separate legal proceedings were conducted in the Market Court regarding the revocation. The defendant’s trademark registration was ultimately revoked.

9.5.2025

The Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs – A precedent setting cyber security incident court case

The Finnish Supreme Administrative Court has handed down decision KHO 2024:115 on balancing data protection and national security interests in cyber security incidents. We acted for the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in this precedent setting case, in which the Supreme Administrative Court agreed with our client’ core submissions and decided to overturn key parts of a data protection authority decision against our client. The court held that the Ministry had acted lawfully when taking a bit of time between discovering information about a cyber incident concerning certain diplomats and notifying all potentially affected people. The key point of principle for our client was the extent to which Article 34 of the GDPR requires such (essentially public) notifications when foreign policy and national security might require a more discrete initial approach. The court’s reasoning is important: since Finland has voluntarily, but not unreservedly, extended the scope of the GDPR to also cover foreign policy and national security, the primacy of EU law does not apply in that extended context. Thus, more specific local Finnish rules on freedom of information/confidentiality in these areas override the general Article 34 notification obligation (under the classic lex specialis derogat legi generali rule), even absent express statutory carve-outs to Article 34. Had Article 34 applied as a matter of EU law, the outcome could have been different, since the GDPR, under primacy, would override all local Finnish rules, irrespective of whether they are lex specialis or not. It’s important to understand why, and on what basis, an EU law applies to any given situation, since this could affect the principles of interpretation so much that the outcome changes significantly. The court did, however, hold that the Ministry will need to notify the DPA itself within the customary deadlines, since the DPA under Finnish law has the right to receive information confidentiality rules notwithstanding. We hope this outcome will contribute to authorities dealing with foreign policy and national security being able to balance all relevant interests going forward. Read the decision in Finnish or in Swedish .

15.11.2024

C&S Insurance Service – Castrén & Snellman’s full-service offering covers all areas of business law for the insurance sector

Castrén & Snellman is the trusted partner for companies in the insurance sector both in Finland and internationally. We have assisted our clients in matters such as obtaining authorisation for activities transactions, such as insurance portfolio transfers and ownership control processes system acquisitions disputes outsourcing arrangements sales, marketing and insurance distribution matters. We have extensive experience in the insurance sector and decades of collaboration with supervisory authorities. We offer our clients our internationally recognised competence, clear thinking and solution-oriented experts.

5.12.2023

Meyer Turku and Meyer Werft – Meyer shipyards awarded compensation and damages in a criminal case concerning copyright and trade secret infringement

We successfully acted for Meyer Turku Oy and Meyer Werft GmbH & Co. KG in an extensive criminal case, from the very beginning of the internal investigation to the court’s decision. The case centred around a person having made unauthorised copies of thousands of files containing Meyer-proprietary information and providing consulting services to a competing Chinese shipyard. The District Court handed down its judgement in October 2023, holding that the offender’s actions constituted criminal copyright and trade secret infringement as well as industrial espionage. The court furthermore held that the offender’s actions could be attributed to a limited liability company he had set up. The court ordered the company to pay Meyer EUR 5 million in compensation for the infringement and also awarded Meyer damages for its expenses. The court thus accepted Meyer’s claims in full. The matter is an exceptionally extensive and significant case on criminal trade secret and copyright infringement. Meyer Turku and Meyer Werft are among the largest and most modern shipyards in the world. Luxury cruise ships built by Meyer are internationally known for their cutting-edge technology and innovativeness. Outset In 2018, Meyer received indications that certain Meyer-proprietary files might have been copied from its systems unlawfully. An extensive internal investigation revealed that that a person had copied a significant number of files containing information protected under both copyright and trade secret laws. The offender had also set up a limited liability company and, in the summer of 2018, entered into a service agreement with a Chinese shipyard. Under the agreement, the offender was to provide consulting services relating to new innovation and technology to the Chinese shipyard. The offender and his company also received significant payments from the Chinese shipyard. After the internal investigation, a police report was filed in the late summer of 2018. In addition, the offender’s property was confiscated for security. Criminal charges were filed, and Meyer presented its claims for compensation and damages as a complainant. Results The District Court agreed with Meyer and the prosecution that the offender’s actions met all the elements of criminal copyright and trade secret infringement as well as of industrial espionage. The court held that the offender’s actions constituted infringement of Meyer’s copyrights and its neighbouring database and catalogue rights under the Finnish Copyright Act and that all the elements of criminal trade secret infringement and industrial espionage, as defined in Finnish law, were met. The court also held that the offender’s actions could be attributed to the limited liability company he had set up. The court ordered the company to pay Meyer EUR 5 million in compensation for the copyright and trade secret infringements. The court also awarded Meyer damages and legal costs as claimed. The court thus accepted Meyer’s claims in full. This decision is noteworthy for the protection of the European shipbuilding industry’s know-how in general. The judgement is final.

18.10.2023

Valio and C&S – Sustainable everyday life is created through bold reforms

Valio is a food company with the courage to change with the times. Valio’s road to growth and towards the innovative transformation of the food industry is supported by its long-standing business law partner, Castrén & Snellman. Juha Hölttä became Valio’s General Counsel at a time when the company kicked its new strategy into a higher gear. ‘In the past two years we have made several significant market initiatives and expanded our business from food production to other areas of the value chain. By acquiring Heinon Tukku, we now provide a new kind of added value to restaurants and professional kitchens through our Valio Aimo ® wholesale business. And our joint venture with St1, Suomen Lantakaasu Oy, will enable us to reach our goal of turning manure into biogas for heavy transportation,’ Hölttä describes some of the milestones of the new strategy. In addition to expanding into new business areas, Valio continues to build a more sustainable dairy business alongside seeking international growth from plant-based products. Valio has invested in the international growth of its Oddlygood ® brand through incorporation and gained additional product development expertise through the acquisition of Gold&Green. Carbon footprint of milk reduced by new business operations Dairy products are at the core of Valio’s business, and the company develops this strong foundation not only through product innovation but also at the beginning of the food chain. ‘Who could have foreseen that dairy farm manure could become one way of tackling climate challenges? Our planned biogas plants will use manure and agricultural by-products to produce renewable liquefied biogas for use as transportation fuel,’ says Hölttä. ‘Valio is aiming for a carbon-neutral milk chain by 2035. We are making major reforms in our operations in order to make this happen.’ The sustainability programme for Valio’s 3,700 dairy farms has been expanded, and it now includes the preventive and systematic healthcare of cows as well as actions related to grazing, the climate and biodiversity. ‘Appreciation for locally produced food is on the rise, which means that sustainability questions are local as well. This is a good trend, as it makes it easier for us to make a difference.’ ‘Strategic help even in difficult circumstances’ The service-mindedness of lawyers is key in implementing a growth strategy. Castrén & Snellman Attorneys is a long-standing partner of Valio, and the relationship between the two is tight. ‘At Valio, we are always exploring new business opportunities, and us lawyers are tasked with assessing these opportunities. My philosophy as the General Counsel is that my door is always open. Together we can evaluate how to solve and implement new initiatives. In this job, you must be curious, broad-minded and business-oriented,’ summarises Hölttä. Hölttä’s legal team of five people is supported by experts from Castrén & Snellman. The key to successful partnership is that both parties are familiar with each other’s business operations and ways of working. ‘Castrén & Snellman knows us well, and they maintain an up-to-date overview of our situation, which I highly appreciate. It means that we are able to tackle tricky situations together quickly even in difficult circumstances.’ A joint fast reaction was needed, for example, when Valio exited the Russian market after the country launched its war of aggression on Ukraine. ‘The responsible thing was to leave quickly but in a controlled manner and by repatriating our investment as opposed to leaving an operational food production facility in the hands of a country that was waging war.’ A shared vision of sustainability Valio – Together we make life better A Finnish food company Approx. 4,600 employees Owned by 13 Finnish dairy cooperatives Finland’s most sustainable brand in the Sustainable Brand Index study Read more about sustainability at Valio Castrén & Snellman – Building sustainable success stories Forerunner of demanding legal services 300 employees Owned by its partners ‘We help our clients build sustainable success stories and achieve their sustainability goals.’ Read more about sustainability at Castrén & Snellman Shared success stories of Valio and C&S Global Brand Portfolio Management and IP Enforcement Purchase of Gold&Green’s Brand, IPR and R&D Function Joint Venture for Biogas Production with St1 Sale of Russian Operations Acquisition of Heinon Tukku Significant Growth Funding Round Competition Damages Case Defending Against Environmental Permit Challenge at the Appellate Level

4.5.2023

Next Games – Netflix’s Tender Offer on Next Games

We are acting as the legal advisor to Next Games Corporation in Netflix, Inc.’s voluntary public cash tender offer for all outstanding shares and stock options in Next Games Corporation. The tender offer values Next Games’ total equity at approximately EUR 65 million. The tender offer will enable Next Games to join Netflix as a core studio in a strategic region and key talent market, furthering the two companies’ shared vision and passion for games. Next Games is the first publicly listed mobile game developer and publisher in Finland, specialising in games based on entertainment franchises, such as movies, TV series or books. The developers of the critically acclaimed The Walking Dead games redefine the way franchise entertainment transforms into highly engaging service-based mobile games. Next Games works on multiple new games based on beloved global IPs. The Company’s latest game, Stranger Things: Puzzle Tales, is based on Netflix’s hit 80s horror drama series.

4.3.2022

Karma Ventures – Investment in Wirepas

We advised Karma Ventures in their investment in IoT company Wirepas. Wirepas raised EUR 10 million in the funding round. Wirepas, the global leader in industrial internet of things solutions (IIoT), will use the collected funds to develop 5G standards and greatly contribute to the growth prospects of the company. The technology of Wirepas enables the digitalisation of, for instance, logistics and industrial manufacturing, which in turn increases the transparency of supply chains and saves energy. Karma Ventures (karma.vc) is an early-stage venture capital firm, specialised in late seed and A round investments in Europe’s most promising deep-tech software startups. Karma Ventures backs companies with strong ideas, unique technology, customer traction and global ambition. Wirepas is a software company based in Tampere, Finland, that has built a wireless connectivity platform for the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT).

10.12.2021

Fennia – Acquisition of Integrated Insurance System

We assisted Fennia in the acquisition of an integrated insurance system from Salesforce and Accenture. Our Data & Technology service was closely involved in drafting the documentation and negotiating the agreements with Salesforce and Accenture. The new integrated system will include customer relationship management and insurance systems and will enable Fennia to reorganise its insurance business operations. This will make it possible to refocus the entire insurance process on the customer. ‘We have a huge job ahead of us to reorganise our business models, clarify our products and streamline our processes. This new integrated system will be built from scratch. Our choice of system is more flexible and adaptable than traditional insurance systems, which will give us the best foundation to create the best customer experience in our business’, says Fennia’s Chief Development Officer Patrik Serén . In practice, Fennia is building a new insurance business alongside its current business rather than developing its current one. This is the first reorganisation of this scale to be carried out in Finland.

7.9.2021

Grafton Group – Acquisition of IKH

We advised international building materials distributor and DIY retailer Grafton Group plc in its acquisition of Finnish Isojoen Konehalli Oy and Jokapaikka Oy (IKH). IKH is one of the largest workwear and personal protective equipment, tools, spare parts and accessories technical wholesalers and distributors in Finland. The consideration payable for IKH is EUR 199.3 million on a cash and debt-free basis. ‘The acquisition of IKH is an exciting development that gives Grafton a presence in Finland for the first time and broadens its market position. It will also strengthen the group’s operations in the mainland European market in line with our international development strategy. IKH is a high-quality business with a strong market position and an experienced management team that provides Grafton with a new growth platform in the Nordic Region. We look forward to welcoming the IKH management team and their colleagues to Grafton’, Gavin Slark , CEO of Grafton, comments. Our team, which includes members from several practice areas, advised Grafton in all legal aspects of the acquisition and negotiating the entire transaction documentation. Grafton Group plc is an international distributor of building materials to trade customers and has leading regional or national positions in the merchanting markets in the UK, Ireland and the Netherlands. Grafton trades from circa 550 branches and has circa 11,000 colleagues. Headquarters are located in Dublin, Ireland. Grafton is listed on the London Stock Exchange. IKH, a family owned business founded in 1956 and originally focused on agricultural spares and machinery, has approximately 400 employees and is headquartered in Kauhajoki, where its well-invested distribution and logistics centre is located. IKH is currently developing a market presence in Sweden and Estonia.

24.6.2021

Nosh Company – Acquisition of Samuji Brand

We advised Nosh Company Oy in its acquisition of the rights to the Samuji brand. The company, which has successfully increased its net sales and profitability, believes that the acquisition will further strengthen its business growth. The Samuji brand and related rights were put up for sale by the bankruptcy estate after the Samuji fashion company filed for bankruptcy in March 2021. ‘We are extremely grateful and excited for our opportunity to continue the story of this prestigious brand. The Samuji brand has been relevant to numerous customers. We welcome them all to build a new future for the brand with us’, says Antti Järvinen, CEO of Nosh Company. Our team advised Nosh Company in negotiating the deal and reviewing the brand portfolio and drafted the necessary agreements. NOSH is a Finnish clothing brand whose clothes are a pleasure to wear. Nosh Company was founded in 2009. NOSH is known for responsibly manufactured luxuriously soft and high-quality women’s, men’s and children’s clothing. The company’s turnover in 2020 was EUR 12.28 million and operating profit EUR 730,000.

18.6.2021

OP and C&S – Investing in a Better World

At OP sustainability is everything. When establishing an entirely new kind of impact fund, the leading financial services group trusted Castrén & Snellman’s expertise. An increasing number of investors want to not just make money, but make a difference. ‘This shift in values is particularly clear in younger investors. Sustainability has changed investment activities a great deal. Investing has become more difficult, but also more interesting’, says Tuomas Virtala , CEO, Asset Management, at OP Corporate Bank. The first wave came in the form of ethical and sustainable investing, which focused on either avoiding investments in unethical industries or encouraging companies to act more sustainably. In recent years, sustainable investing has been joined by impact investing, in which global problems are tackled with private money. ‘Impact investing is not about charity but about making a positive impact as well as a competitive profit. It is the only sustainable way to arrange financing to solve global problems’, Virtala says. Demand for Impact Fund Exceeded Expectations OP, Finland’s leading financial services group is a pioneer of impact investing. Last year, OP collaborated with Finnfund to establish Finland’s first impact fund to invest in emerging markets. Finnfund is a development financier that builds a sustainable world by investing in responsible and profitable businesses in developing countries. Finnfund is owned by the Finnish State, Finnvera and the Confederation of Industries. The new impact fund, OP Finnfund Global Impact Fund I, raised 76 million euros in its first round of funding. After the second round, the fund’s size stands at 135 million euros. ‘The investor interest exceeded our expectations. It is clear that investors are keen to promote sustainable development and are excited by the growth potential of emerging markets, despite the ongoing pandemic’, Tuomas Virtala says. The fund is seeking to achieve measurable positive impacts on climate change, food security, gender equality and the availability of financing. The fund’s main industries are renewable energy, financial institutions and sustainable agriculture. ‘By investing in developing markets, we can achieve major impacts. The investments are aimed at first getting the fundamentals in place in the target markets. For example, replacing generators with more sustainable means of producing energy. Once the foundations are in place, we can move on to more demanding projects, such as constructing mobile phone networks.’ Sustainability Part of Every Employee’s Day Establishing a new impact fund is just one example of OP’s sustainability work. ‘Sustainability is an integral part of OP’s strategy and is reflected in the daily work, decisions and activities of everyone at the company’, Tuomas Virtala says. OP’s corporate responsibility programme is framed around four themes: OP aims to foster a sustainable economy, support local vitality and community spirit, improve financial literacy in Finland, and use their intellectual and information capital in a responsible way. According to Virtala, sustainability expertise was previously centralised in a separate asset management unit, but now these experts have been placed in every unit. ‘One unit is no longer enough. Sustainability work and expertise needs to be integrated into every function and throughout the entire value chain.’ In addition to their corporate responsibility programme, each unit in OP has its own responsibility principles. ‘Asset management is a pioneer in promoting sustainability within OP. We provide the company sustainability expertise relating to wealth management and foster this expertise by training our employees and sharing knowledge.’ A Good Partner Knows the Best Practices Castrén & Snellman and OP have a long history of working together. Among other projects, Castrén & Snellman assisted OP in the establishment of Finland’s first impact fund to invest in emerging markets last year. According to Tuomas Virtala, Castrén & Snellman has been a good partner in sustainability work. ‘It is vital that our partners understand the best sustainability practices. A law firm that has a clear vision of the smartest way to do something can help us learn and develop’, Virtala says. It is also important for law firms to anticipate future regulation. ‘The regulation of sustainability matters is constantly developing, and we want to be able to anticipate it as best we can so that we can make sure we are keeping up.’ Some Success Stories from OP’s and C&S’s Shared Journey 2021 OP Financial Group – Sale of Checkout Finland to Paytrail OP Corporate Bank – Financing Arrangement for OP Vuokrakoti OP Corporate Bank – Finance of Acquisition of Profit Software 2020 OP-Public Services Real Estate Fund – Acquisition of Aalloppi Healthcare Property from eQ Finnish Real Estate Caverion Corporation and Manager Banks – Issue of EUR 35 Million Hybrid Bond OP and Finnfund – Establishment of a New Global Impact Fund Danske Bank, Nordea and OP Financial Group – Sale of Automatia Pankkiautomaatit to Loomis Ilmarinen, OP and LocalTapiola – Acquisition of Stakes in REDI and Tampere Central Deck and Arena Project OP Cooperative – Sale and Leaseback of OP Headquarter Campus in Helsinki 2019 OP Corporate Bank – Financing Arrangement for Veho Lenders – Metsä Board’s Bank Financing Facility with Sustainability Targets OP Group – Successful Defence of OP Group in Major FCCA Dominance Investigation OP Corporate Bank – SRV Group’s Issue of EUR 58.4 Million Capital Notes OP Financial Group – Reorganisation of Shareholding in Access Capital Partners Pohjola Health – Sale of Occupational Health Services Business OP Life Assurance Company – Disposal of a Helsinki CBD Property Fund Managed by OP Real Estate Asset Management – Konepaja Hotel Development Project 2018 OP Corporate Bank – EUR 43 Million Financing Arrangement for Kreate OP Corporate Bank and Nordea Bank – Revolving Credit Facility Agreement for Lehto OP Corporate Bank – Financing of the Acquisition of Roima Intelligence OP Financial Group – Sale of Residential Portfolio to Kojamo Group Central Deck and Arena – Pioneering Real Estate Development Project Featuring Finland’s Largest Multi-purpose Arena in Tampere City Centre 2017 OP Toimitilakiinteistö – Acquisition of Modern Logistics Warehouse OP Rental Yield – Acquisition of BREEAM Certified Office Properties 2016 OP Corporate Bank – Financing of Intera Partners’ Acquisition of Sikke Security Oy (formerly ISS Security Oy) OP Property Management – Sale of a Large Real Estate Portfolio to M7 Real Estate Helsinki Area Cooperative Bank – Court Case Concerning Electronic Identification Services Act 2015 OP-Rental Yield – One of Finland’s Largest Real Estate Portfolio Transactions in the 21st Century OP-Pohjola & LähiTapiola – Construction and Development of REDI Shopping Centre and Parking Facilities 2014 OP-Pohjola – Tender Offer for All Shares in Pohjola Bank OP-Rental Yield – Acquisition of a Property Portfolio Comprising Over 20 Residential Properties and Over 800 Housing Units

25.3.2021

Valio – Global Brand Portfolio Management and IP Enforcement

We are advising Valio in brand protection and intellectual property enforcement matters globally. Our IP team manages Valio’s global trademark, design and copyright portfolio, including registration, prosecution, opposition and enforcement. We also advise Valio in questions concerning IP licensing, consumer and marketing law, social media, domain names and cybersquatting, and food sector regulation. Valio is Finland’s biggest dairy business and food exporter with EUR 1.7 billion annual net sales. Valio’s products are found in some 60 countries and account for 25% of Finland’s total food exports. The company’s R&D work follows the footsteps of Nobel Prize winner A.I. Virtanen, and Valio has some 4,200 employees around the world. The Valio brand has been regularly recognised as one of the most valued brands in Finland. Other well-known and beloved brands of Valio include, among others, AURA, OLTERMANNI, POLAR and OIVARIINI.

30.9.2020

Anora Group – Global Brand Portfolio Management and IP Enforcement

We are advising Anora Group in brand protection and intellectual property enforcement matters globally. Our IP team manages Anora Group’s global trademark and design portfolio, including registration, prosecution, opposition and enforcement. We also advise Anora Group in questions concerning marketing law, social media, domain names and cybersquatting. Anora Group Plc is a publicly listed company. It was born in 2021 through the merger of the Finnish Altia Oyj and the Norwegian Arcus ASA. Anora Group is a leading wine and spirits brand house in the Nordic Region and a global industry forerunner in sustainability. Anora Group has a large portfolio of iconic brands such as Koskenkorva, Linie, Larsen, Skagerrak, Chill Out, Ruby Zin, Wongraven, O.P. Anderson and Falling Feather. Its key brands are exported to over 30 markets globally.

11.5.2020

Fortum Power and Heat – Decommisioning of FiR 1 nuclear research reactor

We advised Fortum Power and Heat Oy in Finland’s first nuclear reactor decommissioning project. Fortum will decommission the FiR 1 research reactor located in Otaniemi, Espoo, together with VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd. The decommissioning works include planning, preparatory measures, dismantling of the reactor as well as waste management.

21.4.2020

Finnish Defence Forces – Squadron 2020 Project

We advised the Finnish Defence Forces Logistics Command in the Squadron 2020 project. Squadron 2020 is the Finnish Navy’s project that is aimed at replacing seven vessels that the Navy will decommission. These will be replaced by four modern corvettes. Rauma Marine Constructions Oy and RMC Defence Oy based in Rauma will construct four multi-purpose corvettes, called the Pohjanmaa Class, for the Squadron 2020 project. Saab AB from Sweden was selected as the combat system supplier. The Pohjanmaa Class will form the backbone of the Finnish Navy’s capability and combat vessel fleet and is planned to remain in service until the 2050s. The total cost of the Squadron 2020 project is approx. EUR 1,300 million.

16.3.2020

CSC – IT Center for Science – Legal Advice in a Supercomputer Project

We are assisting CSC, the Finnish national IT Center for Science, in a project to set up a new European supercomputer to be hosted in Finland. The overall project is led by the European High-Performance Computing Joint Undertaking, which will set up three new pan-European supercomputers. CSC is the host and coordinator for a nine-country consortium, the Large Unified Modern Infrastructure (LUMI) group, which will be responsible for operation of one of these three computers, to be located in Finland. The budget for the LUMI project is 207 million euros. When completed, the LUMI computer will be one of the most powerful supercomputers in the world. We have, e.g. assisted with financing, hosting and consortium agreements.

27.1.2020

BMW AG – Enforcement of Trade Mark and Registered Community Designs

We are acting for BMW AG in a trade mark and community design infringement case against a major rim distributor and reseller in Finland. After confirming the bulk of our client’s infringement claims, the Market Court is now moving on to the damages phase of the case. First, however, the court in mid-March issued its decision on our client’s document and information production claims. The court upheld our claims and ordered the defendant to disclose accounting materials, purchase and sale figures, supply chain data and other information. The Market Court’s order also has wider implications beyond just the case at hand. The Market Court very rarely issues formal document production orders, so the court’s holding is important in outlining the scope of such orders. The Market Court also rejected a number of arguments raised by the defendant which makes it significant in terms of the defences available to defendants in document production matters. The Market Court’s order is likely to be very happy news to IP proprietors and claimants in Finland. Traditionally, the Finnish courts have taken a very restrictive approach to document production orders. The Market Court’s order is an important step in the gradual liberalisation of case law. Finland is still a long way from US-style discovery proceedings, however. Note that the decision is still subject to appeal. The order is available in Finnish on the court’s website .

17.4.2019

Danske Bank – Co-operation between Danske Bank and Mandatum Life continued

We assisted Danske Bank in an arrangement, published on 24 April 2018, which concerns the continuation of the co-operation with Mandatum Life regarding the distribution of Mandatum Life’s insurance products through Danske Bank’s Finnish branch network. The transaction dates back to Mandatum Life disclosing in October 2016 that it would use its right to sell the insurance portfolio distributed by Danske Bank’s Finnish branch network to Danske Bank or a third party appointed by Danske Bank. The agreed arrangement between Danske Bank and Mandatum Life means that the transfer of the insurance portfolio will not take place and instead, the co-operation between the parties will be strengthened. Commission structures in the new co-operation agreement differ from the ones used earlier, and Mandatum Life will pay higher commissions for both new sales and the existing portfolio. The co-operation agreement is valid for five years at a time, but Danske Bank is entitled to extend it for a period of 15 years. Danske Bank also has the right to buy the portfolio in question from Mandatum Life at the end of the arrangement. The agreed transaction is subject to confirmation of its tax treatment. Upon the closing of the transaction, Mandatum Life will receive a transaction price of EUR 197 million from Danske Bank for the arrangement. The amount is subject to corporate tax. The transaction is expected to close within 3 months.

25.4.2018

BBS – Enforcement of BBS Trade Mark

We successfully represented BBS GmbH, a leading light alloy wheel manufacturer, in a trade mark dispute before the Market Court. The issue was whether a Finnish company had infringed the BBS trade mark by marketing and selling wheels and hub caps under a stylised 885 symbol. The Market Court upheld our infringement claim, prohibiting the defendant from continuing or repeating the infringement and ordering the defendant to pay reasonable compensation to our client. The Market Court rejected the defence that a disclaimer on the defendant’s website was sufficient to remove the infringement, holding that there could still be post-sale confusion among third parties who see the 885 mark in use on a wheel. In considering the similarity of the marks, the Market Court took into account that the number 8 resembles the letter B and the number 5 resembles the letter S, especially given their visual presentation. The ruling became final in spring 2017.

15.6.2017

Takeda – Commercial exploitation of pharmaceutical products

We are representing Takeda, one of the world’s leading research-based global pharmaceutical companies, in various contractual and other legal matters in Finland. Takeda operates in over 70 countries and has over 31 000 employees worldwide. Takeda’s goal is to pursue innovative medicines. We help them achieve this goal by giving them sound advice in legal issues related to manufacturing, marketing, licensing and distribution of pharmaceutical products in Finland. The pharmaceutical industry is strictly regulated by law. Therefore, it is important that, on top of national laws, legal partners also understand the specific requirements of pharmaceutical business.

24.10.2016

AIG – Protecting Clients from Cyber Risks

We provide comprehensive legal expertise to AIG’s CyberEdge policy holders in cases related to cyber risks. CyberEdge is an insurance policy that helps to mitigate not only the potential financial impacts of a data leak, loss or breach, but also the reputational and IT impacts. This is because CyberEdge combines traditional insurance cover with professional consultancy from legal, communications and IT points of view. Our experts continually assist our clients both in pre-emptive measures and in situations where a data breach has occurred in order to minimise the damage resulting from the incident. The other partners in the CyberEdge product are Nixu Oy and Pohjoisranta Burson-Marsteller.

24.10.2016

Bank Norwegian – Advice on Providing Cross-Border Services

We advised Bank Norwegian AS, an internet bank offering consumer banking services across the Nordic countries, in establishing its cross-border service offering in Finland. Our expertise on local regulatory aspects was required in relation to offering savings accounts, loans and credit cards as well as with respect to various consumer protection and other regulatory matters. Bank Norwegian is 20% owned by Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA, which operates one of the largest low-cost airline carriers in Europe.

30.9.2016

Helsinki Area Cooperative Bank – Court case

We represented Helsinki Area Cooperative Bank, part of the OP Financial Group, one of Finland’s largest banking groups, in court proceedings concerning the scope of the bank’s obligation to accept non-EU/EEA identity documents before providing services under the Electronic Identification Services Act and concerning the nature of the assessment that must be performed by the bank. The Administrative Court of Helsinki fully upheld our client’s position setting a major precedent for the Finnish banking sector at large.

13.9.2016

Google – Data Protection and Privacy Court Cases

Castrén & Snellman acts on behalf of Google in Finnish court cases concerning data protection and privacy matters, including the so-called ‘right to be forgotten’ as established by the European Court of Justice in 2014. We have also acted for Google in several cases concerning issues under the Freedom of Speech Act, and for example in a court case concerning Google’s AdSense program .

14.7.2016

Wärtsilä – Acquisition of Eniram

We acted as the legal advisor to Wärtsilä in its acquisition of Eniram Group. The acquisition of Eniram will enable Wärtsilä to grow and strengthen its digital offering and in-house capabilities, specifically in data analytics, modelling and performance optimisation. The transaction is valued at EUR 43 million. Eniram, founded in 2005, is a Finland-based technology company providing the maritime industry with energy management and analytics solutions to reduce fuel consumption and harmful emissions. The company’s solutions are installed in over 270 vessels ranging from cruise liners, tankers, LNGs, container ships, bulkers and ferries. Eniram is headquartered in Helsinki, Finland and has subsidiaries in the UK, the USA, Germany and Singapore. In 2015, Eniram’s turnover exceeded EUR 10 million with 89 employees worldwide. Wärtsilä is a global leader in advanced technologies and complete lifecycle solutions for the marine and energy markets. In 2015, Wärtsilä’s net sales totalled EUR 5 billion with approximately 18,800 employees. The company has operations in over 200 locations in more than 70 countries around the world. Wärtsilä is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki.

6.7.2016

Caverion – Acquisition of Sähkötaso Esitystekniikka

We acted as the sole legal advisor to Caverion in its acquisition of Sähkötaso Esitystekniikka Oy made to strengthen its AV solutions expertise. The transaction supports Caverion’s strategy and complements its offering in the area of Information and Communication Services. The sellers are Sähkötaso Esitystekniikka Oy’s CEO Esa Ranta-aho and Palvelurahasto I, a fund managed by Korona Invest. Sähkötaso Esitystekniikka Oy is a leading provider of AV solutions in Finland. The company was founded in 2005 and has 28 employees in three cities (Helsinki, Tampere and Jyväskylä), a national service scope and an international network of suppliers.

3.5.2016

Altia Plc – Enforcement of Altia’s Well-Known Trade Mark

We represented Altia Plc, a leading premium-brand wine and spirits manufacturer in the Nordic and Baltic markets, in a trade mark dispute before the Market Court. A third party was infringing one of our client’s most well-known trade marks. The case was successfully settled after we filed a trade mark infringement action on behalf of Altia. For owners of well-known marks like the one at issue, it is of key importance to defend the mark to prevent it being diluted and losing its unique identity.

14.3.2016

Arnolds – Franchise matters

We represent Arnolds Bakery & Coffee Shop in connection with its franchise business. Arnolds has been operating since 1991, and today there are more than 30 franchisee-operated Arnolds stores all over Finland. Being a very well-known brand in Finland, protecting its intellectual property is of key importance for Arnolds. We advise Arnolds on intellectual property and marketing law, franchise agreements and in negotiations with its franchisees.

14.3.2016

BMW AG – Enforcement of BMW’s Registered Community Designs

High-quality design is a key success factor for car manufacturers building their brands and developing a loyal customer base. This is particularly true of premium car brands. High-end design products make tempting targets for manufacturers and sellers of after-sales replica parts. This was the core issue in a recent dispute where we successfully represented BMW; a design rights infringement case concerning replica rims. The court upheld our client’s infringement claim, ordering the defendants to pay damages. The case is precedent-setting in Finland in holding that car rims do not constitute ‘spare parts’ under design law and in defining the scope of criminal liability for the infringement of European-level IP rights, such as EU Community designs and EU trade marks.

20.11.2015

Google – AdSense Court Case

We successfully represented Google Ireland Ltd in a dispute concerning the interpretation of Google’s AdSense program terms and Google’s remedies in case a partner is in breach of them. Google AdSense is a program allowing website owners to earn revenue by letting Google place advertisements on their sites. The claimants suing Google had created Made for AdSense (MFA) sites to generate revenue by exploiting the AdSense program. MFA sites, like the ones at issue, are generally low-quality sites created solely to display AdSense ads without having any substantial independent content. The dispute concerned whether the sites at issues were MFA sites contrary to Google’s AdSense terms and what remedies Google had available to it in intervening against these sites. The court fully agreed with Google that the claimants’ sites had been contrary to the rules and that Google had been allowed to act as it did in shutting them down. The court dismissed the claimants’ claims in their entirety and ordered them to pay Google’s legal costs.

23.9.2015

Crocs, Inc. – Enforcement of Crocs’ Famous 3D Trade Mark

Crocs is a world leader in innovative casual footwear for men, women and children. Since its inception in 2002, Crocs has sold more than 300 million pairs of shoes in more than 90 countries around the world. With a unique and popular design, Crocs relies on enforcing its intellectual property rights against replica products. We represented Crocs in trade mark litigation concerning the infringement of Crocs’ three-dimensional trade mark protecting its famous Classic shoe. The court upheld our infringement claim and ordered the defendant to pay damages.

13.2.2015

Aura Capital – Sale of Bluegiga Technologies Oy to Silicon Labs

We acted as the legal advisor to Aura Capital and other sellers in the sale of the Bluegiga Technologies to Silicon Labs (NASDAQ: SLAB) for approximately EUR 54 million. Bluegiga is one of the fastest growing independent providers of short-range wireless connectivity solutions and software for the IoT. Bluegiga’s wireless portfolio includes ultra-low-power Bluetooth® Smart, Bluetooth Classic, and Wi-Fi® modules, as well as software stacks, development tools and software development kits (SDKs) for a multitude of applications in the industrial automation, consumer electronics, audio, automotive, retail, residential, and health and fitness markets. Silicon Labs is a leading provider of silicon, software and system solutions for the Internet of Things, Internet infrastructure, industrial automation, consumer and automotive markets.

11.2.2015

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