Hannes Snellman is a prominent Nordic law firm with offices in Sweden and Finnland. The firm has been assisting in complex and high-profile business transactions since 1909.
Focusses / specialisms
The firm is a staple of the Finnish financial and corporate market, particularly in complex banking, M&A and equity capital markets deals.
The banking and finance team represents both lenders and borrowers on asset finance, financing and acquisition finance deals. It is especially strong in banking, industrials and manufacturing and technology and telecommunications sectors.
In capital markets the firm is best known for equity work including IPOs, public tender offers, equity offerings and share buy-backs. The firm often acts as lead counsel on international transactions.
The M&A team advises both listed and privately held companies on domestic and cross-border deals. It covers a broad spectrum of transactions such as public takeovers, share transfers, mergers, reverse buyouts and joint ventures.
The projects practice advises on project development, construction and operational issues in such sectors as energy, infrastructure, mining, construction, data centres and natural resources.
Key clients
Verdane Capital, Triton Partners, Nordea Bank, Fortum, Solidium, OP Corporate Bank,
Danske Bank, Intera Partners, Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken,
Vaaka Partners, YIT Corporation, Eltel, Ahlstrom Capital, State of Finland, Nordic Investment Bank, LähiTapiola, Capman, Anora Group, Bain Capital, Valmet Corporation Smartly.io, Supermetrics, Metso Outotec, Konecranes, Anora Group, Chevron Products UK
Research period review: 33rd edition (2023/2024)
In the banking and finance sphere, the firm was active in acquisition finance as well as some restructurings and refinancings. Their clients were from a wide range of industries including energy, defense, healthcare and financial services.
In the capital markets realm, the firm advised on several types of deals including private placements, public procurement and deals involving depository receipts. Their clients have been from the energy, pharmaceuticals as well as the technology and telecommunications sectors.
In terms of M&A work, the firm has been active in divestments, joint ventures, both public and private acquisitions as well as financial investments. Their clients have been from industries such as technology and communications, automotive, manufacturing as well as investment management.
In project development the firm has been active in sectors such as mining and the broader energy sector, as well as technology and telecommunications.
Deal highlights: 33rd edition (2023/2024)
Cargotec and Konecranes €2.7 million merger
Fortum €4.5 million restructuring
Valmet’s €7 billion
merger with Neles
Client feedback: 33rd edition (2023/2024)
Banking and finance
"Constructive team with good knowledge of the local market."
Capital markets
"High level of enthusiasm for engaging and seeing where they can assist. Really responsive without being overbearing. Good mixture of legal analysis and common sense helping to move through issues at an effective rate."
"Extensive legal expertise, fit for large-scale transactions, ability to work in fast-phased projects and deliver on time."
"Practical and to-the-point advice."
"Hannes Snellman are quick, reliable and very easy to work with. Each individual on the team is knowledgeable and I feel we get very good value for money."
"Overall capabilities in conducting complicated projects."
Financial services regulatory
"They are very knowledgeable on the legal topics relevant to us (also difficult ones) and very service-minded and reachable."
Leveraged finance
"Solid delivery, good staffing, realistic fee quotes."
M&A
"Dedicated, competent, accessible, easy to work with."
"Very knowledgeable with high subject-matter expertise, extremely service-minded and pleasant to work with."
"High quality, fast, commercial mindset."
"Very effective and swift response."
"Hannes Snellman is very solution-orientated firm with a hands-on attitude whilst demonstrating extremely high-quality M&A expertise."
"Comprehensive and extremely professional approach in all necessary fields of law (real estate, transactions, permitting, corporate, etc) required in a major project."
Private equity
"Hannes Snellman demonstrated excellent subject-matter knowledge, their advice was both poignant and practical, and they were highly responsive."
Project development
"Professional."
"Availability, adaptability and proactiveness in proposing solutions to negotiation deadlocks."
"Hannes Snellman has great expertise in environmental law and administrative processes and they have an ability to think outside the box and find unusual solutions for us where needed."
"Excellent understanding of our line of business. Practical and solution-orientated approach which is still based on very high level legal expertise."
"Large team with wide expertise in various legal aspects."
Project finance
"Professional."
Richard Akerman
"Very knowledgeable and responsive. Put together an excellent team to help handle our matter."
Markus Bremer
"One of the best finance lawyers in Finland, intelligent and creative."
Douglas Essehorn
"Very effective and responsive."
Katja Heikkinen
"Drive, juridical knowledge."
Claes Kjellberg
"Dedication."
Miklos Kovacs Kal
"Smart, fast-learner, solution-orientated, highly responsive."
Maria Landtman
"Professional."
Henrik Mattson
"He is a very skilful lawyer and an inspiring discussion partner in many banking and finance-related legal topics."
Klaus Metsä-Simola
"Klaus is a true expert within his field and great at finding solutions for versatile issues. He is also very nice to work with, because he is calm and easy-going."
Joel Montin
"Extremely personable and good at being an ally in advising on challenges. Has a great background in banking to enable commercially focused advice."
Antti Nyberg
"Good at managing team and taking the grandfather role."
"Very proactive and responsive, easy to work with, takes ownership of deliveries of the team as a partner, a future industry leader."
Katja Perätalo
"Cheerfulness. Proactive and constructive."
"Exceptionally good in her line of expertise. Thorough understanding of both legal aspects as well as the real-life challenges that the client is facing. Always available, easy to work with."
Riikka Rannikko
"Ability to provide strategic advice based on her legal expertise and vast experience. In addition to the big picture, she is amazingly well aware of every detail of the matter."
"She is highly competent, accountable and highly solution-orientated."
"Despite having the demanding position of managing partner, Riikka is able to spend just the right amount of time on our business. She can be depended on to give you a straight answer in a timely manner. Riikka knows our business from years ago and takes the effort to keep current with our affairs."
"Very solid and structured approach to solving issues."
"Riikka Rannikko is a well-known corporate law and M&A expert in Finland. She is very knowledgeable, responsive, precise and pleasant to work with. She can handle contentious situations in a structured, calm and controlled manner."
Tapio Teräkivi
"Excellent knowledge in the Finnish real estate market. Value added in versatile approaches to problem-solving. Very good interaction."
Johanna Wärnberg
"Commercial, hard-working, responsive."
Valerie Warvik
"Professional."
