Nina Mikander

Head of IP Prosecution, European Trademark and Design Attorney

Services

  1. Intellectual Property

Contact details

I am an intellectual property (IP) specialist and head of our IP prosecution team. I advise clients on all aspects of trademark and design protection, filing strategies, trademark clearance searches and IP portfolio management internationally. I also handle contentious proceedings, oppositions and cancellation actions at the Finnish Patent Office and EUIPO. I have considerable and versatile experience of designs globally, and have been involved in numerous cases of design infringements as a consulting specialist responsible for preparing infringement evaluations. I work for clients across a variety of industry sectors. I lecture on IP related matters as well.

Before joining C&S, I have worked as a head of trademark and designs, team manager and as a head of marketing in firms specialised in IP prosecution as well as with a telecommunications firm overseeing and managing their design portfolio. Before joining a private IP practice I worked several years at the Finnish Patent Office.

I am a European Trademark and Design attorney with the right to represent clients before EUIPO. I am also an authorised Finnish Trademark and Design Attorney.

Latest references

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
Case published 4.5.2023
SOK – Sale of Hotel Business in St Petersburg
We advised Suomen Osuuskauppojen Keskuskunta when it sold the company responsible for St Petersburg Sokos Hotels business to the Russian investors Alexander Ermakov and Yury Shumakovare. As a result of the transaction, the responsibilities for property leases and personnel salaries were transferred to the buyer as of 30 June 2022, and the hospitality business of S Group in Russia ended. The transaction did not include any rights to use S Group trademarks.  S Group is a Finnish network of retail and service companies with more than 1,900 locations in Finland. S Group consists of cooperatives and Suomen Osuuskauppojen Keskuskunta (SOK) with its subsidiaries.
Case published 15.7.2022
Valio – Sale of Russian Operations
We advised Valio in its negotiations on the divestment of Valio’s Russian operations to Velkom Group. The transaction includes Valio’s Russian operations and the processed cheese factory in Ershovo. The Viola® brand processed cheese sold and produced in Russia is also part of the transaction. Product brand rights to the Valio Viola® fresh cheeses sold in Finland and produced by Valio in Finland are not included in the transaction. In 2020, Valio’s net sales in Russia were EUR 87 million and accounted for approximately 5 per cent of Valio’s global net sales of about EUR 1.8 billion. On 7 March 2022, Valio decided to withdraw from operations in Russia. With this transaction, all Valio’s operations in Russia end immediately. Valio exports products to some 60 countries around the world. The total value of Valio’s international operations and exports is about EUR 750 million annually, i.e. approximately 40 per cent of Valio’s total net sales.
Case published 26.4.2022
F-Secure – Proposed separation of F-Secure’s Consumer Security business through a partial demerger
We act as legal advisor to F-Secure Corporation in the proposed separation of F-Secure’s Consumer Security business through a partial demerger. It is planned that the Consumer Security business will be transferred into a new independent company, to be named F-Secure Corporation and established in connection with the demerger, and which will be listed on the official list of Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd.   The demerger is expected to become effective as of 30 June 2022. In connection with the demerger, F-Secure Corporation will retain its Corporate Security business, which is planned to be renamed as WithSecure Corporation. F-Secure Corporation (listed on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki) is a global cyber security and privacy company with over 30 offices around the world and is headquartered in Helsinki, Finland.
Case published 17.2.2022
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.  
Case published 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.
Case published 11.5.2020
Sinituote – Protection and Enforcement of Brands and Designs
We are assisting Sinituote in the protection and enforcement of its trademarks and designs and in issues related to the management of its IP portfolio. Under the SINI brand, Sinituote markets and sells cleaning tools and products. SINI products are among the most popular ones in their product category in Finland. Kungs is the leading Nordic brand for automobile care. It includes winter products such as snow brushes and ice scrapers that are designed and tested to suit the extreme Finnish winter conditions. One of Sinituote’s most legendary products is the Sinipiika mop that was developed in the 1950s and is still in production today. In addition to SINI and Kungs, the Sinituote brands also include Savu, Lundia, Rörets and VS-Harja.  The products are designed and mostly also manufactured in Finland. Sinituote has its own factory in the small town of Kokemäki in southwestern Finland. The group’s R&D focuses not only on the high quality of the products but also their ergonomics, environmental friendliness and design. Sinituote makes considerable investments in R&D and design and also actively protects and enforces its trademarks and designs.
Case published 21.1.2019
Alma Media – Brand Protection and Enforcement
We are advising Alma Media Corporation and its group companies in trade mark and other intellectual property right protection and infringement matters as well as in questions relating to brand portfolio management. We have also been involved in creating the brand strategy for the company and have handled marketing law and domain issues. Alma Media is a dynamic multi-channel media company with a strong capacity for renewal. The best-known brands of the company include Kauppalehti, Talouselämä, Affärsvärlden, Iltalehti, Aamulehti, Etuovi.com and Monster.
Case published 18.1.2019
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