Marja Ollila

Sustainability Specialist

As Castrén & Snellman’s sustainability specialist, my job is to help ensure that our sustainability work meets the high standards required from a forerunner in the legal services business. I see to our firm’s sustainability reporting and climate work, including carbon footprinting and emission reduction targets. I support our HR department in social responsibility work, such as monitoring our human rights impacts. An important part of my work is assisting our lawyers in incorporating sustainability considerations into their legal advice.

I began my working life in the corporate sustainability function of a Finnish technology firm, focusing on climate topics. I then followed my passion for languages working as a translator at Castrén & Snellman’s Translation Service for roughly a decade before returning to sustainability. I am also the translator into Finnish of several non-fiction books dealing with economics and the economy. This work has left me with an interest in the distribution of income and capital in its many forms.

I hold a M.Sc. (Tech.) in environmental management from the Helsinki University of Technology and a MA degree in French philology from the University of Helsinki.

Latest references

Castrén & Snellman was commissioned by the Ministry of the Environment to carry out a study on how the Circular Economy Act could be used to promote circular economy aspects in public procurement. Our report provides valuable information to the working group tasked with preparing the new Circular Economy Act. The report includes an overview of relevant strategies, action programmes and policies, a look at relevant legislation and case law, an assessment of the current state of circular economy procurement and examples of integrating circular economy aspects into public procurement from around the world. We end the report with concrete conclusions and a proposal for a new circular economy provision with justification. The proposal aims to maximise the regulation’s effectiveness and minimise any adverse side effects. The final report is available on the Circular Economy Act project’s Gateway to Information (in Finnish). The study was carried out by Anna Kuusniemi-Laine, Sanna Aalto-Setälä, Lotta Huhtamäki, Marja Ollila, Laura Vuorinen, Paavo Heinonen and Anna Ylitalo.
Case published 11.11.2025
We acted as the legal and ESG advisor to Mérieux Equity Partners on the acquisition of a majority stake in Labquality through a leveraged buyout by its buyout fund, Mérieux Participations 4. Existing shareholders of Labquality, including Cor Group and the management, will reinvest a portion of their proceeds into the company in connection with the transaction. Headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, Labquality is a Nordic player specialized in EQA, CRO activities and regulatory affairs, with a strong local presence in Central and Eastern Europe. The company provides a comprehensive array of services for the healthcare, medical technology, and pharmaceutical industries. The company, employing over 120 professionals and supported by a network of more than 150 external experts and consultants across its offices in Finland, Germany, and Poland, serves a diverse clientele of over 8,000 customers, including major pharmaceutical companies in over 60 countries. Mérieux Equity Partners (MxEP) is an AMF-accredited management company dedicated to equity investments in the Healthcare and Nutrition sectors. MxEP actively supports entrepreneurs and companies with differentiated products and services, giving them privileged access to its sector expertise and international network. The transaction will enable Labquality to pursue its buy & build strategy in Europe to accelerate its CRO activities while continuing strong and recurring growth in the EQA segment. Labquality will benefit from MxEP’s sector expertise and financial resources to achieve its ambition of becoming a leading European CRO and EQA platform, with fully integrated regulatory consulting capabilities to serve major customers across Europe.
Case published 4.12.2023
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
We advised Move Energy as an investor in connection with the combination of 3North Partners Plc and Steady Energy Oy and the related private placement and initial public offering of the combined company on Nasdaq First North Growth Market Finland. In connection with the transaction, 3North Partners received approximately EUR 69.8 million in investor commitments from a group of institutional and other investors, including Move Energy, to fund the combined company. Steady Energy is a Finnish nuclear technology company developing a new generation of small modular reactors (SMRs) particularly suited for district heating. Its LDR-50 reactor is designed to provide cities and utilities with a scalable and low-carbon alternative to combustion-based heat production.
Case published 19.10.2026
We advised Efima Oyj on the sale of its AI business to Better Care Technologies Oy. The transaction included Efima’s Moiva AI platform developed for the care sector, the related technology and brand, customer contracts, and the experts working in the business. Efima is a Finnish digital company that supports the sustainable growth of large and mid-sized companies by streamlining their business processes and by creating competitive advantage through the innovative use of artificial intelligence and data. The company has nearly 200 experts based in Helsinki and Tampere. 
Case published 21.9.2026
We advised Neoen Renewables Finland Oy, part of the French Neoen Group, in its sale of a data centre project to a consortium consisting of international data centre developers and operators. This marked Neoen’s first data centre development project in Finland. Founded in 2008, Neoen is one of the world’s leading independent renewable energy producers. The company operates in 15 countries. It develops, finances, builds, owns, and operates solar power plants, wind farms, and battery storage systems. Neoen Group is owned by global alternative asset manager Brookfield Corporation.
Case published 17.9.2026
We advised Jolt Capital and Tesi in connection with their investment in VEV, a leading provider of commercial fleet electrification solutions. The investment, led by Jolt Capital with Tesi as co-investor, will support VEV’s next phase of growth and expansion across Europe. As part of the transaction, VEV became an independent company following the acquisition of Vitol’s stake in the business. Founded by Vitol, VEV provides integrated fleet electrification solutions combining fleet strategy, charging infrastructure, energy supply and operational services. Through its VEV IQ platform, the company supports more than 6,000 commercial electric vehicles across Europe and has been deployed across more than 600 sites spanning the transport, logistics and waste sectors. Jolt Capital is a private equity firm focused on growth investments in European deeptech companies. Tesi is a Finnish state-owned investment company that promotes Finnish business and economic growth through investments. We advised Jolt Capital and Tesi on the equity financing and structuring aspects of the transaction. International law firm Goodwin advised the investors on the acquisition of VEV.
Case published 10.9.2026
VR-Group Plc is a transport and logistics group owned by the Finnish State, operating passenger and freight rail transport in Finland with activities also in the Swedish market. VR Group provides passenger, logistics and maintenance services with over 160 years’ experience in developing responsible transport of the future. We advise VR Group in intellectual property matters as part of the company’s wider brand protection efforts. Our assignments have included advice on copyright, design rights and trademarks, focusing on the protection of the company’s visual identity – including its distinctive green colour – in connection with transport services as part of a comprehensive IP protection strategy. VR Group’s consistent brand building has also received recognition, including the Finland Chamber of Commerce’s Brand of the Year award in 2026. In the competition, brands were viewed comprehensively from various perspectives, including their story, strategic role, brand renewal ability and intellectual property protection. The jury found that VR had understood the importance of the protection of its brand as part of a comprehensive business strategy. 
Case published 9.9.2026