Ville Kukkonen

Senior Associate, Member of the Finnish Bar

I work in Castrén & Snellman’s Employment and Data & Technology practices. I regularly advise our domestic and foreign clients in various employment- and privacy-related matters. My daily work includes advising clients in general employment law and day-to-day employment issues, reorganisations and employment-related dispute resolution. In addition, I regularly advise clients in employment privacy matters. During previous years, I have also worked on several data protection assignments. These have included GDPR implementation and compliance projects, drafting data protection documentation and counselling in general data protection and ePrivacy related matters.

Prior joining Castrén & Snellman, I worked for several years in another Finnish law firm where I advised clients on various employment and data protection related matters. In addition, I have gained valuable experience on a secondment as an in-house privacy legal counsel in a Nordic media corporation. Furthermore, in my previous career I also worked as a legal counsel in a business union for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Besides having a master’s degree from the University of Helsinki and being accepted into the Finnish Bar, I have certified with the CIPP/E degree under the IAPP certification program of the International Association of Data Protection Professionals, which requires a wide range of expertise in the content of European data protection laws. During my studies, I also completed courses at the Chinese University of Hong Kong in the fields of the Chinese legal system and international trade law and done an internship in a law firm in Beijing.

Latest references

We are advising Oomi Oy in a business transaction whereby KSS Energia Oy’s consumer and business customers in the retail sale of electricity will be transferred to Oomi. The transfer is scheduled to take place in March 2025. The arrangement requires approval from the Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority. Oomi Oy is one of the largest energy service companies and electricity sellers in Finland. The arrangement is a result of the recent development of the electricity market and Oomi’s strategy, which aims to offer customers a seamless and improved digital customer experience.
Case published 20.12.2024
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
We are acting as the lead counsel to Fortum in a cross-border transaction in which Fortum is selling its recycling and waste business. The business is sold to thematic impact investing firm Summa Equity through its portfolio company NG Group. The debt-free purchase price is approximately EUR 800 million. The transaction is subject to authority approval and customary closing conditions. Fortum’s recycling and waste business to be sold comprises municipal and industrial waste management and end-to-end plastics, metals, ash, slag and hazardous waste treatment and recycling services. These businesses are located in Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Norway and currently employ approximately 900 employees.
Case published 18.7.2024
We advised Andritz Oy, a part of ANDRITZ group, with their acquisition of all the shares in Procemex Oy. The acquisition further strengthens ANDRITZ’s automation and digitalisation portfolio. Procemex is a global leader in integrated web monitoring and web inspection solutions for the pulp and paper industry. It has a team of more than 100 vision systems experts and has subsidiaries in Germany, Japan and the US. ANDRITZ offers a broad portfolio of innovative plants, equipment, systems, services and digital solutions for a wide range of industries and end markets. ANDRITZ is a global market leader in all four of its business areas – Pulp & Paper, Metals, Hydropower and Environment & Energy. The publicly listed group has around 30,000 employees and over 280 locations in more than 80 countries.
Case published 18.7.2024
We acted as Zendesk, Inc.’s Finnish legal counsel in its acquisition of Ultimate Enterprises Oy, an industry leading provider of service automation using AI technology. The cross-border acquisition was completed in cooperation with the transaction’s lead counsel Allen & Overy. Zendesk is a leading global technology company that provides software-as-a-service and customer experience (CX) products based in the US. The acquisition of Ultimate expands Zendesk’s AI-powered CX offerings.
Case published 26.3.2024
We acted as the lead counsel to REMONDIS Group and REMONDIS Maintenance & Services International GmbH in a cross-border acquisition of all the shares in Delete Group Oyj from its shareholders, including Axcel, a Nordic private equity firm. The redemption of all Delete Group’s outstanding senior secured notes was also carried out in connection with the transaction. The acquisition complements REMONDIS Maintenance & Services’ existing industrial cleaning business and marks the entry of the REMONDIS Group to the Finnish market. As a result of the transaction, Delete Group became the third industrial cleaning services company in the REMONDIS Group, alongside BUCHEN Industrial Services and REYM. Operating in Finland and Sweden, Delete Group is one of the leading providers of high-quality industrial cleaning services. It employs approximately 675 professionals in 29 locations. The sale and purchase agreement was signed in May 2023. The transaction was notified to the competition authorities in Finland and Sweden. We assisted REMONDIS in notifying the Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority. Mannheimer Swartling advised REMONDIS in matters under the laws of Sweden. REMONDIS Maintenance & Services belongs to the REMONDIS Group, one of the world’s largest recycling, service and water companies. REMONDIS employs more than 40,000 employees all around the globe in over 30 countries.
Case published 5.12.2023
We are acting as Finnish legal advisor to KLP Vermögensverwaltungs in a combination of its German subsidiary MVC Mobile VideoCommunication with Elisa Videra, a subsidiary of Elisa Corporation, through a share swap. KLP Vermögensverwaltungs will have a 62.5% holding and Elisa Corporation a 37.5% holding in the combined MVC Videra. The transaction is subject to authority approval in Finland and the estimated closing is in December 2023. In 2023, MVC Videra’s combined turnover is expected to be around EUR 45 million with a total of around 150 employees.
Case published 6.11.2023
We advised Excelerate Energy on the conclusion of a lease agreement with Gasgrid Finland Oy for the Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) Exemplar. The Inkoo LNG terminal project will have a significant impact on securing the supply of gas to Finland and Estonia as imports of pipeline gas from Russia cease. The Exemplar is the first FSRU in Finland and the Inkoo LNG terminal project is legally unique. Moreover, the project, which is critical for Finland’s and the Baltics’ gas supply, was completed in an exceptionally short timeframe. Our experts assisted the company in a wide range of areas including contracts, energy legislation, licensing, labour law, taxation and structuring.
Case published 9.6.2023