Marius af Schultén

Partner, Member of the Finnish Bar

Services

  1. Environment, Energy & Green Transition
  2. Restructuring Proceedings

Contact details

I head Castrén & Snellman’s Environment, Energy and Green Transition team. My key areas of expertise include land use planning and permitting of large-scale infrastructure projects.

I have gained extensive experience as strategic advisor to domestic and international energy and infrastructure project developers, investors, funds, and financial institutions on their investments in Finland. This has included advice on green field project development, M&A transactions involving project companies or project assets, various types of co-operation agreements between developers and administrative court proceedings related to various permits and land use plans. My key focus sector is renewable energy, notably the onshore and offshore wind power, photovoltaics, battery storage, and hydrogen sectors, among others. In addition, I have been involved in various mining, forestry, chemicals, and aquaculture projects. Chambers Europe ranks me as one of the leading legal experts in Finland in the category of Energy and Natural Resources.

Regardless of the nature of the assignment – whether project development, transactions, or court proceedings – understanding the client’s business is the key to high quality legal advice. Our job as lawyers is to help our clients in navigating through the legal jungle, thereby ensuring the successful realisation of their projects. This is only possible by focusing on finding solutions, not just searching for problems. This is the mindset that I strive to keep in everything I do.

Latest references

KoBold Metals – Earn-In Agreement with Aurion Resources
We advised KoBold Metals on the Finnish legal and tax aspects related to its earn-in agreement with Aurion Resources. Under the agreement, KoBold (through its wholly owned subsidiary KoBold Exploration Finland Oy) can earn an undivided 75% interest in commodities discovered (other than any discoveries that are predominantly gold or silver), by incurring USD 12 million in exploration expenditures on or before the fifth anniversary of the date of signing the agreement. The exploration area covers approximately 35 km2 in Aurion’s 100% owned 160 km2 Risti Property in Sodankylä, Finland Following satisfaction by KoBold of the earn-in requirements, a joint venture will be established with KoBold owning 75% and Aurion 25%. KoBold Metals Company is a US-based exploration and mining company, supported by high profile investors such as Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz, and Equinor. It combines expertise in geosciences with artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data science to improve and accelerate the exploration process in search of the critical minerals necessary for the global energy transition.
Case published 26.3.2025
Fortum – Acquisition of a project development portfolio for renewable power from Enersense
We are acting as a counsel to Fortum in a transaction in which Fortum is strengthening its renewable power project pipeline through the acquisition of a project development portfolio from Enersense. The debt-and-cash free purchase price is approximately EUR 9 million, with the potential for project-specific earn-outs subject to projects successfully reaching a final investment decision in the future. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to be completed during the first quarter of 2025. Fortum is a leading Nordic energy company with the purpose to power a world where people, businesses and nature thrive together. Fortum’s core operations comprise of efficient, CO2-free power generation as well as reliable supply of electricity and district heat to private and business customers. The company is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki. One of Fortum’s strategic targets is to develop at least 800 MW of ready-to-build onshore wind and solar projects by the end of 2026.
Case published 19.12.2024
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
Boreo – EUR 10 million convertible hybrid bond
We advised on the issuance of a EUR 10 million equity-classified convertible hybrid bond by Boreo Plc to the Norwegian insurance company Protector Forsikring ASA. The annual coupon interest on the bond is a fixed 4 percent until the reset date on 24 June 2030, after which the interest rate increases to 14 percent. The bondholders have the right to convert the principal amount into Boreo shares at a price of EUR 19 per share during a four-year period following the issuance. The bond is not intended to be admitted to trading on a stock exchange or any other trading venue. It has no specified maturity date, and Boreo has the right to redeem it for the first time after four years from the issuance date. ‘We are very pleased to have completed the transaction, and with the confidence Protector has shown in the company. The arrangement supports the execution of our acquisition-driven growth strategy, strengthens the company’s financial position, and lowers financing costs,’ says Kari Nerg, CEO of Boreo. OP Corporate Bank plc acts as the lead manager for the issuance of the convertible hybrid bond. Castrén & Snellman Attorneys Ltd serves as legal advisor to the transaction, and Legal Folks Ltd acts as Boreo’s legal advisor.
Case published 24.6.2025
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.
Case published 18.6.2025

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