29.1.2020

Six Trends for the New Decade of Technology

Related services

Data & Technology

The 2010s were a decade of breathtaking technological development. What can we expect from the 2020s?

Technology will change every industry and service. The most significant changes will be in the energy, transport and logistics sectors. We got a taste of things to come last summer when we helped Google’s subsidiary Wing Aviation Finland start a drone food delivery service in Finland.

We have already gotten a taste of these trends helping our clients in numerous ground-breaking projects over the past decade, and I am sure that the pace will only intensify from hereon.

Latest insights

2.2.2026 – Data & Technology Avoid costly risks with well-drafted distribution agreements

Topi Lusenius

Samuli Salminen

Topi Lusenius & Samuli Salminen

10.10.2024 – Data & Technology New act on dual-use items entered into force in September – what companies need to know

Kim Parviainen

Lauri Laatunen

Kim Parviainen & Lauri Laatunen

5.9.2024 – Data & Technology Technology acquisitions can boost companies’ growth – or cause them to fail

Topi Lusenius

Anders Forss

Kim Parviainen

Topi Lusenius, Anders Forss & Kim Parviainen

6.5.2024 – Employment Outsourcing company functions – four key points for success

Tomi Kemppainen

Kim Parviainen

Eija Warma-Lehtinen

Tomi Kemppainen, Kim Parviainen & Eija Warma-Lehtinen

Latest references

Downing – Acquisition of the entire share capital of Tornionlaakson Voima

We advised UK-based investment company Downing in its acquisition of the entire share capital of Tornionlaakson Voima Oy. Tornionlaakson Voima owns three hydropower plants in the Tengeliönjoki river system – the Portimokoski power plants in Ylitornio, the Jolmankoski power plants in Raanujärvi and the Kaaranneskoski power plants in Sirkkakoski. The power plants produce a total of approx. 45 gigawatt-hours of electricity per year. Tornionlaakson Voima’s daily operations will continue normally, and the transaction will not affect customers. The consummation of the transaction is subject to the approval of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. Downing has over 35 years’ experience in providing a wide range of investment solutions to the needs of institutional investors, advisers and retail investors. The company manages over £2 billion in assets in both the private and public markets and its current hydro power portfolio includes approx. 50 hydro power plants in the Nordics.

LähiTapiola and OP Henkivakuutus – Successful representation of insurance companies in Supreme Administrative Court health data processing cases

We successfully represented insurance companies LähiTapiola and OP Henkivakuutus in two cases concerning an important point of principle: the right of insurance companies to process health data as part of the insurance application process. The Supreme Administrative Court handed down twin decisions ( one published as precedent ) addressing the matter in light of contrary DPA decisions. Under the Finnish Data Protection Act, insurance companies may, to simplify, process health data concerning “insured persons” (vakuutettu, försäkrad) to determine liability under the insurance. This rule constitutes an exception to Article 9 GDPR. At issue was whether the term “insured person” also covers people in the process of obtaining insurance coverage or only people who are already covered. In more practical terms: can an insurance company rely on the rule when considering whether/how to grant the insurance in the first place? The SAC answered in the affirmative and thus upheld the traditional industry approach over the DPA’s contrary view. The SAC noted that the Data Protection Act did not define the term “insured person” and thus looked at insurance legislation for guidance. As argued by the insurance companies, that legislation also uses the term in the context of describing the insured person’s pre-contractual informational obligations. Thus, and in view of the underlying purpose of the rule at issue, the SAC found that an “insured person” could be someone in the process of obtaining coverage, not just a person already covered. The outcome clarifies the scope of the local rule at the insurance application stage for the Finnish insurance industry.

SuperOffice – Acquisition of Lyyti

We acted as Finnish counsel to SuperOffice AS, backed by Axcel, in its acquisition of Lyyti Oy from Finnish private equity firm Vaaka Partners and other sellers. Lyyti is a leading event management software company for physical, digital and hybrid events with a strong customer base in Finland, Sweden and France. SuperOffice is a leading provider of customer relationship management (CRM) software for small and medium-sized businesses across Northern Europe. Axcel is a Nordic private equity firm with a focus on technology, business services and industrials, healthcare, and consumer sectors.

Lantmännen – Acquisition of Leipurin from Aspo

We advised Lantmännen ek för in its contemplated acquisition of Leipurin from Aspo Plc. Lantmännen is an agricultural cooperative and Northern Europe’s leader in agriculture, machinery, bioenergy and food products. Lantmännen is owned by 17,000 Swedish farmers and has 12,000 employees in over 20 countries. Leipurin is a leading Nordic supplier of bakery ingredients, equipment, and expert services to professional bakeries, confectioneries, and food manufacturers. The company operates across Finland, Sweden, and the Baltic countries with subsidiaries located in the aforementioned countries, providing comprehensive solutions to the baking industry. The closing of the transaction remains subject to regulatory approvals.

Search from the site.