Stina Europaeus

Counsel, Member of the Finnish Bar

I specialise in dispute resolution. My principal areas of practice include both domestic and international arbitration and litigation.

I have represented clients in various large-scale commercial disputes that have, in recent years, focused particularly on the construction and energy sectors. I have also advised clients in commercial disputes relating to, among other things, the sale of goods and IT.

I have completed court training at the District Court of Helsinki. This training gave me valuable practical experience in court procedures, which has helped me in assisting clients with the disputes they are facing.

Latest references

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 represented a mutual real estate company belonging to a large Finnish group in arbitration proceedings against a construction company. The arbitral tribunal rejected the construction company’s claims in their entirety and ordered the construction company to reimburse our client for the costs of the arbitration proceedings in full. The dispute concerned the contract price under the construction contract, which was agreed to be determined on the basis of our client’s yield requirement and the rent under the lease agreement for the building in question. The parties disagreed on the indexation clause applicable to the rent adjustment and its impact on the contract price.
Case published 22.11.2024
Over the past seven years, Gasum has transformed itself from a traditional Finnish gas distributor to a modern energy company and significant circular economy operator in the Nordic countries. Castrén & Snellman has stood by Gasum’s side throughout this journey.  When General Counsel Tiia Ryhänen joined Gasum in 2013, the company was still a traditional gas distributor. ‘We closed our first liquefied natural gas (LNG) acquisition in 2014. In the seven years since, Gasum has transformed itself into a modern, international energy company and circular economy operator’, Ryhänen said. This major shift has taken place through a series of corporate transactions. Ryhänen has been involved in every one of them over the past seven years. ‘It has been exciting to be a part of creating something new and expanding the company. I have particularly enjoyed welcoming many new people onto the Gasum team.’ ‘Like an Extension of Our In-House Team’ Castrén & Snellman Attorneys has been Gasum’s partner from the very start. ‘C&S has stood by our side throughout this journey. We have a strong partnership. C&S really understands how we handle acquisitions. We always want to act in a way that respects the people on the other side of the table’, Ryhänen said. Ryhänen’s team includes three other in-house lawyers. Since last August, the team has also had one of Castrén & Snellman’s lawyers ‘on loan’, i.e. on secondment. ‘C&S is like an extension of our in-house team. We work with at least one of their lawyers nearly every week. We regularly talk about the best ways to move forward in assignments. We can trust them to always deliver on their promises.’ Towards a Carbon-Neutral Society Gasum is a Nordic gas sector and energy market expert. The company’s strategy is to expand the natural gas market. Our work has a shared purpose: cleaner energy. ‘The demand for natural gas and biogas is growing fast, because fighting climate change requires switching to cleaner solutions. We are building a bridge towards a carbon-neutral society together with our customers and partners.’ In practice, this goal means that Gasum will have to expand its network of gas filling stations, increase its production and sourcing of biogas and help its customers reduce their emissions. ‘We have also expanded our operations on the electricity market. Last September, we entered into a long-term wind power deal with ABO Wind Oy for the output of their wind park. In 2023, we will begin selling our customers renewable wind power produced in Kestilä.’ Gasum’s Journey to a Modern Circular Economy Operator with C&S 2020 Gasum acquires the entire share capital in Swedish biogas producer Skövde Biogas AB from Torran Gas Holding AB. 2019 Gasum acquires AGA’s Clean Energy business and Nauticor’s Marine Bunkering business from Linde AG. Gasum sells its subsidiary Gasum Tekniikka Oy to industrial maintenance partner Viafin Service Oyj. 2018 Gasum increases its shareholding in Skangas to 100%. Gasum acquires Enegia Group Oy’s energy market services business. 2017 Gasum increases its shareholding in Skangas to 70%. Gasum sells its heat business and natural gas retail business to Auris Kaasunjakelu Oy in the Auris gas distribution network area. Gasum acquires 100% of the shares in the Swedish biogas producer Swedish Biogas International. The acquisition makes Gasum the leading producer of biogas in the Nordic countries. 2016 Gasum acquires the Biotehdas biogas plant chain owned by Taaleritehdas Biofactory I Ky Private Equity Fund. Gasum and its subsidiary Skangas acquire the Risavika LNG production plant in Norway from Lyse Group. Gasum acquires the full shareholding of Biovakka Oy. 2015 Gasum sells the shares in its subsidiaries Gasum Paikallisjakelu Oy and Helsingin Kaupunkikaasu Oy to SL Capital Partners. 2014 Gasum acquires a majority in Skangass’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) distribution operations from Lyse Corporation. The acquisition makes Gasum the leading Nordic LNG operator.
Case published 15.1.2021
We represented FinnHEMS Oy, the company in charge of Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) operations in Finland, in set-aside proceedings. In 2016, an arbitral tribunal rendered an award dismissing the claims presented by FinnHEMS against one of its service providers. The arbitral tribunal accepted that the service provider had breached the agreement, but decided not to award any compensation to FinnHEMS, as the arbitral tribunal considered FinnHEMS to have failed to give notice of the breaches within a reasonable time. However, the service provider had not invoked failure to give notice as grounds for disputing the claim during the arbitration. Consequently, FinnHEMS initiated set-aside proceedings in the District Court of Helsinki. The District Court of Helsinki accepted FinnHEMS’ action and set the award aside. The service provider appealed to the Helsinki Court of Appeal, which also found in favour of FinnHEMS. Both the District Court of Helsinki and the Helsinki Court of Appeal accepted FinnHEMS’ argument that the arbitral tribunal had failed to provide FinnHEMS with sufficient opportunity to present its case and had exceeded its jurisdiction when basing its award on grounds not invoked by the parties in the arbitration. The Supreme Court did not grant the service provider leave of appeal, making the decision by the Helsinki Court of Appeal final.  The threshold for a court to set aside an award is high. Arbitral awards are meant to be final and can only be challenged on very limited grounds. All in all, there is very little legal praxis available relating to set-aside proceedings and even less so where an arbitral award has actually been set aside. Nevertheless, FinnHEMS was able to show that the arbitral tribunal had exceeded its jurisdiction and failed to provide FinnHEMS with sufficient opportunity to present its case to such a degree that the arbitral award was set aside. The final decision by the Helsinki Court of Appeal is noteworthy and rare in Finland and provides good guidance for future cases with respect to the limits of the powers of arbitral tribunals.
Case published 11.5.2020
We represented a global manufacturer in large-scale international arbitration proceedings against subsidiaries of a multination company. It was the largest antitrust damages case ever tried in Finland and one of the largest and most complex private enforcement of competition law cases ever tried in Europe. The counterparties claimed over USD 800 million in damages from our client based on an alleged global cartel. The dispute was solved by an amicable settlement between the parties to the full satisfaction of our client.
Case published 16.6.2019
We are proud to have provided legal assistance to PwC in the successful public tendering process for the comprehensive renewal of Kela’s benefits processing systems. Kela is the Social Insurance Institution of Finland, and this project is a significant cornerstone in modernising Finland’s social security infrastructure. PwC was selected as Kela’s strategic partner to implement a comprehensive overhaul of the benefits processing systems, digital services, customer relationship management, and information exchange platforms. The project aims to meet the demands of the future digital environment and enhance customer experience through the adoption of Salesforce technology. The new systems are expected to simplify benefit processes, enhance user experience for both customers, employees and other stakeholders, and ensure adaptability to future legislative changes. Castrén & Snellman provided strategic legal support to PwC throughout its successful bidding process, which was carried out through a competitive negotiated procedure. We extend our warmest congratulations to PwC for their successful bid and look forward to seeing the positive impact of this project on Finland’s social security system.
Case published 24.4.2025
We advised Milexia Group, a portfolio company of the French PE sponsor Crédit Mutuel Equity, on its acquisition of the activities of Alpha Positron Oy, a Finnish distributor specializing in GPS/GNSS, time and frequency solutions for the electronics industry, process automation, corporate IT, defense, and other demanding markets. Milexia Group is one of the world’s leading European suppliers for high-quality electronic components, systems and scientific instruments technology. It has offices, warehouses and technical centres in France, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Germany, Nordics and Hong Kong. The acquisition aligns with Milexia’s strategy to expand its presence in the Nordic region and enhance its portfolio of communication solutions.
Case published 24.4.2025
We are acting as legal advisor to Piippo Plc in the sale of their bale netwrap and baler twine machines, related assets, and trademarks used in Piippo’s business to Portuguese Cotesi S.A. The sale of assets will be carried out in two phases and the final completion of the transaction is expected to occur during the first quarter of 2026. Piippo Oyj’s core business is baling nets and twine and it is one of the leading suppliers in the industry globally. The company’s global distribution network covers more than 40 countries. The company’s shares are listed on the First North Growth Market Finland operated by Nasdaq Helsinki Oy. Founded in 1967, Cotesi is one of the world’s leading producers of synthetic and natural twines, nets and ropes, with operations in Europe, North America and South America and its main production plant in Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal.
Case published 17.4.2025

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