Mikaela Rintakoski

Associate, Master of Laws

I advise clients in assignments concerning insolvency law. I also assist clients in questions of corporate law as part of our Corporate Governance team. I have participated in various bankruptcy and restructuring proceedings, both assisting the administrator of the estate and representing the creditors.

In addition to bankruptcy and restructuring proceedings, I have experience in voluntary debt arrangements and liquidation of companies.

Prior to joining Castrén & Snellman, I worked at another business law firm, specialising in insolvency law and dispute resolution.

I have a Master of Laws degree from the University of Helsinki, and I have also studied law at the ESADE private university in Spain.

Latest references

Relacom Finland Oy was declared bankrupt in 2019 upon the company’s own application. Relacom Finland Oy was one of the leading telecommunication services companies in Finland, and it had activities across Finland. The company offered, for example, installation and maintenance of telecommunication networks and power grids. When bankruptcy was declared, the company had around 400 employees. The bankruptcy proceedings were concluded in approximately three years, and the creditors approved the final settlement of accounts in December 2022. Attorney Pekka Jaatinen served as the administrator of the bankruptcy estate. After the beginning of the bankruptcy, the bankruptcy estate examined the company’s unfinished projects and finished them to the extent that was profitable. The rest of the projects were shut down in a controlled manner and handed over to the customer. Some of the projects were also socially important. The bankruptcy estate hired 112 of the company’s employees for fixed-term employment to finish projects and to ensure that the shutdown was carried out in a controlled manner. However, the bankruptcy administration did not continue the company’s business. The company’s fixed assets and inventories consisted of, among other things, various tools, equipment and several vehicles. The bankruptcy estate identified different options for efficient ways to liquidate assets, and selling was carried out in cooperation with an external liquidator. The liquidation result from finishing projects and selling the company’s movable property was significant and higher than the book value. Unsecured creditors accrued approximately 41% disbursements in the bankruptcy.
Case published 11.1.2023
Menswear retailer Brothers Clothing Oy applied for bankruptcy on its own initiative in April 2020. At the time it was declared bankrupt, the company had a total of 12 stores and about 70 employees across Finland. The bankruptcy proceedings were concluded briskly in about one and a half years, and the creditors approved the final settlement of accounts in December 2021. Attorney Pauliina Tenhunen served as the administrator of the bankruptcy estate. After bankruptcy was declared, the bankruptcy estate began clearance sales in five stores in Espoo, Vantaa, Turku, Raisio and Vaasa. The clearance sales were organised in cooperation with the company’s store staff, and the bankruptcy estate hired about 20 of the company’s employees for fixed-term employment. The liquidation result from the clearance sales was significant. Unsecured creditors accrued over 50% disbursements in the bankruptcy. In addition to insolvency experts, the team managing the bankruptcy estate included taxation and employment law experts.
Case published 18.1.2022
We advised Metsäliitto Cooperative in relation to a new EUR 200 million sustainability-linked revolving credit facility with a syndicate of eight banks. This new credit facility refinances the existing EUR 200 million facility signed in December 2018 and will be used for general corporate purposes. The facility has a tenor of five years and includes two one-year extension options. The pricing mechanism of the revolving credit facility is linked to two of Metsä Group’s ambitious sustainability targets: Target 1: Zero tonnes of fossil carbon dioxide emissions, Scope 1 and 2, by 2030. Target 2: Share of certified wood in wood supply 100% by 2030. ‘Incorporating sustainability criteria into our financing further demonstrates the company’s strong commitment to actions that reduce our carbon footprint and mitigate climate change,’ says Vesa-Pekka Takala, EVP, CFO of Metsä Group.
Case published 16.1.2025
We advised NoHo Partners Plc on a 119-million-euro financing arrangement. The financing arrangement frees up a significant part of the cash flow for the business and enables the implementation of an acquisition-driven growth strategy also in the future.
Case published 16.1.2025
We advised CapMan Buyout in the exit of Renoa Group. Renoa Group management together with Korpi Capital and other investors have acquired the group. Renoa Group is a Finnish established expert in the building technology sector specializing in detached houses in Finland and Sweden. Renoa is a major provider of turnkey domestic water & heating, sewer system and electricity network renovations, with significant operations also in Sweden. The Group reported sales of €35 million and employed c. 300 personnel across its 10 offices in Finland and 6 in Sweden. Korpi Capital is a Finnish investment company with holdings in 29 companies. 
Case published 14.1.2025
We advised eQ Community Properties Fund in its acquisition of a property portfolio comprising a health centre in Espoo, a daycare property in Vantaa, an elementary school in Helsinki, and a parking facility property in Helsinki from Ilmarinen Mutual Pension Insurance Company. The lettable area of the first three properties is approximately 13,900 sq.m., while the parking facility offers 120 parking spaces. The portfolio’s tenants include the City of Helsinki, the City of Vantaa, the Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County, and Aimo Park Oy. In connection with the transaction, Ilmarinen invested in eQ Community Properties fund as per 31 December 2024.
Case published 9.1.2025
We successfully represented a Finnish manufacturing company in arbitration proceedings under the SCC rules against a global construction company. The dispute was governed by Finnish law and the seat of arbitration was Stockholm, Sweden. The dispute mainly concerned the termination of an erection contract and the right to compensation for delays of the project and for cost increases due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The main questions in dispute were the lawfulness of the termination of the erection contract as well as the consequences of the termination such as the right to costs to complete the project after termination, the right to liquidated damages for delay of the project and adjustment of contract price due to cost increases. The total value of the dispute exceeded EUR 15 million.
Case published 8.1.2025
We advised Korkia Oy in its loan agreement with Nordic Environment Finance Corporation. The financing will support the development and international scale-up of Korkia’s pipeline of solar energy, battery energy storage system (BESS) and onshore wind projects. Korkia is a dedicated investor in renewable energy operating in nine countries. It has a robust development pipeline of over 20 GW in renewable energy and energy storage projects.
Case published 7.1.2025