Mining & Natural Resources

Mining & Natural Resources

Every mining project is unique, and calls for an understanding not only of regulatory issues, but also of the social context.

In mining industry projects, we provide legal advice from the exploration phase to the establishment of a mine and beyond. Our attorneys have a wide range of knowledge in the mining sector, which enables us to solve challenges relating to permitting, nature protection, relations with local people, and good employment agreements and benefit packages for your expat workers and their families. Our experts have solid experience in mining industry litigation and finance. Our insolvency team also has broad experience in the financial restructuring of mining companies.

We are well versed in the gravel and rock extraction industry, and have been involved in projects in different development stages relating to pure gravel extraction and rock quarry extraction. We also have experience with end-of-use landscaping requirements and re-activating sites that may have been dormant for decades.

  • City planning and land use
  • Land use agreements
  • Land lease agreements
  • Joint arrangement and easement agreements
  • Property formation and expropriation proceedings
  • Disputes and authority proceedings
  • Outsourcing projects

Latest references

We advised KoBold Metals on the Finnish legal and tax aspects related to its earn-in agreement with Aurion Resources. Under the agreement, KoBold (through its wholly owned subsidiary KoBold Exploration Finland Oy) can earn an undivided 75% interest in commodities discovered (other than any discoveries that are predominantly gold or silver), by incurring USD 12 million in exploration expenditures on or before the fifth anniversary of the date of signing the agreement. The exploration area covers approximately 35 km2 in Aurion’s 100% owned 160 km2 Risti Property in Sodankylä, Finland Following satisfaction by KoBold of the earn-in requirements, a joint venture will be established with KoBold owning 75% and Aurion 25%. KoBold Metals Company is a US-based exploration and mining company, supported by high profile investors such as Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz, and Equinor. It combines expertise in geosciences with artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data science to improve and accelerate the exploration process in search of the critical minerals necessary for the global energy transition.
Case published 26.3.2025
We are assisting Novana Oy with the permitting of a vanadium recovery plant planned in Pori, Finland. Novana has reached an agreement with the highly specialised global steel company SSAB to recover the by-products of the steelmaking process into high-grade vanadium products. Novana has also concluded an agreement with Neometals, an innovative project development company. Neometals believes its proprietary process has the potential to place this vanadium recovery project within the lowest quartile of production costs globally. The recovery of metals from by-products in an environmentally friendly manner is a high priority for Europe. Novana aims to use the by-products from SSAB’s steel production to recover high-purity vanadium for use in energy storage solutions, principally vanadium redox flow batteries, without the need to mine and process vanadium using traditional methods. The recovery process will be powered by renewable energy. Approximately 75% of the global vanadium supply is produced in China and Russia. It is estimated that the Novana vanadium recovery plant once operational will create a significant opportunity to supply vanadium to the European vanadium market.
Case published 5.3.2021
We assisted Mawson in obtaining a new three-year exploration permit for the Kairamaat 2-3 exploration area located inside the Mustiaapa-Kaattasjärvi Natura 2000 area. Kairamaat 2-3 is a part of the flagship Rompas-Rajapalot gold-cobalt discovery (the exploration permit was granted on 18 January 2019). Mawson Oy is a subsidiary of Mawson Resources Limited (TSX:MAW), that has distinguished itself as a leading Nordic exploration company with a focus on the flagship Rompas-Rajapalot gold-cobalt discovery in Finland. The Finnish Mining Authority, TUKES, the responsible permitting authority, made a clear decision to regrant the permit for 3 years, while ensuring all environmental values of the permit area will be secured. The ruling was based on Mawson’s comprehensive Natura assessment and mitigation procedures to avoid impacts on the natural environment. As is standard under Finnish Administrative law, the permit is appealable within 30 days of the decision. However, the enforcement order allows commencement of work according to the legal enforcement of the earlier exploration permit conditions (i.e. drilling operations), until any appeals, if received, are addressed by the Administrative Court. Mawson Resources Limited is an exploration and development company with a focus on the resource expansion of its high-grade Rompas-Rajapalot gold-cobalt in Finland. Mawson has distinguished itself as a leading Nordic Arctic exploration company. Rompas-Rajapalot is a significant and strategic gold-cobalt resource for Finland with the recently published maiden resource already positioned as one of Finland’s current top three gold resources by grade and contained ounces and one of a small group of cobalt resources prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 policy within Europe.
Case published 15.2.2019
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