HPP continuously serves its clients at top European level. Our key practices and practitioners are recommended and ranked high again in Chambers Europe 2024.
The ranking is based on law firm and client interviews about different firms and their lawyers.
Chambers and Partners has ranked nine of our departments. In addition, Jaakko Klemettilä was ranked in Tax and Henrik af Ursin in Intellectual Property. Altogether, 16 of HPP’s lawyers have been ranked in their respective fields.
HPP has been recommended in the following key practice areas:
Banking & Finance
HPP Attorneys is noted for its presence on real estate and project finance transactions. The law firm is also experienced in acquisition and corporate finance matters, in addition to refinancing mandates. The lawyers frequently act for domestic and international banks on cross-border deals.
Clients describe the lawyers and our services:
“HPP is extremely responsive and always available.”
“The HPP team has a solution-focused way of working, even in complex situations.”
“The law firm demonstrates rapid delivery times and good communication.”
Antti Rintakoski is particularly active on real estate finance transactions. He is also knowledgeable in corporate and acquisition finance deals, as well as refinancing arrangements. He is appreciated, because
“Antti is able to handle and solve complex issues in a practical way.”
“He is easy to cooperate with and always tries to find a solution and move the matter forward.”
“Antti Rintakoski is responsive and has the right attitude to transactions.”
Competition/European Law
HPP Attorneys offers a broad competition law practice, advising clients on both behavioural investigations and merger clearance mandates. The law firm further assists with foreign direct investment filings and competition compliance queries. The team has a number of clients from the energy and transportation sectors.
Clients say:
“We have been very happy with the quick responses to our questions.”
“The company’s representatives have profound knowledge about present and coming legislation.”
Tuomas Saraste frequently represents clients in cartel investigations, both before the Finnish Supreme Court and the European Commission. He also assists with merger clearance matters and state aid mandates, as well as general compliance topics. He is appreciated, because of his business understanding:
“I appreciate the understanding of the nature of our business.”
Corporate and M&A
HPP Attorneys has a notable practice advising corporates, investment companies, private equity houses and industrial clients. The department acts on a variety of mandates, including tender offers and auction processes. The lawyers also assist with corporate governance topics. The team has a particular focus on transactions in the energy sector.
Clients describe:
“The lawyers have strong experience and co-create ideas with the customer.”
“The team have strong skills in M&A.”
“The team deal with all matters quickly and with great skill. Their problem solving is very strong and their advice is commercially feasible and easy to implement.”
“HPP Attorneys has a very strong team for corporate matters.”
Notable practitioners Antti Säiläkivi and Andrew Cotton are key contacts for clients.
Dispute resolution
HPP Attorneys is an established outfit assisting with a range of commercial disputes. The law firm advises on both litigation and arbitration proceedings, and boasts notable expertise in construction and shipping-related disputes. The lawyers also handle criminal law mandates.
Clients remark that
“The law firm provides in-depth views as well as pragmatic, solution-oriented and protective advice.”
“The practice has a good understanding of the underlying business and related contractual principles, as well as extensive experience in litigation in Finland. It has a great team of lawyers from associates to partners, allowing them to handle complex matters with tight schedules and be relatively cost-efficient.”
“The team cooperates well with other departments of the law firm to seek consultancy if needed. The lawyers are easy to reach and always willing to have a dialogue.”
Mikko Leppä is a well regarded lawyer who co-leads HPP’s dispute resolution practice and is adept in acting for both domestic and international clients in commercial disputes and arbitration proceedings. He is respected, because
“He has the ability to communicate even the most complex legal details.”
“Mikko is always available and can give quick comments and more complete evaluations as needed. He has the ability to understand the underlying business and also takes the more pragmatic commercial view into consideration. He has good experience and an ability to perform in court even in difficult situations.”
“He is excellent at showing initiative in seeking solutions and is able to take care of the matters independently.”
Employment
The employment law department of HPP Attorneys works alongside the firm’s M&A department to advise on the employment law elements of proposed corporate transactions. The team also assists with employment contracts, including non-solicit agreements. It is additionally active in employee terminations and health and safety mandates.
Henna Wiklund has a broad employment law practice that covers employee terminations, health and safety matters and drafting contracts. She also assists with the employment law aspects of corporate transactions and transfers of business. Client says “Henna Wiklund always provides great service and responsiveness.”
Energy & Natural resources
HPP Attorneys is renowned for its strength in environmental and permitting matters, particularly in relation to the natural resources sector, with notable experience in mining projects. The firm offers further expertise across renewables, notably advising on several wind farm projects. It is particularly active in M&A and financing matters within the sector, with an impressive roster of clients including international investors and corporations, as well as domestic energy producers and infrastructure operators.
Clients note that
“The team’s particular strength is its depth of knowledge and how they bring various scenarios as well as alternatives for different situations to support the project.”
“We get immediate responses to any questions we might have and the team seems very committed to help us.”
“HPP’s energy team seems to have wide expertise beyond sector limits and the support of experts in other HPP teams when needed. No question has ever been left unanswered.”
“HPP have a strong background on market standards and commercial considerations by different types of companies. They are very thorough in pointing out potential findings but also provide options how these could be handled commercially.”
Kari Marttinen advises on permitting and project development across a range of areas, including in relation to energy storage facilities, oil refineries and wind farms.
Tarja Pirinen is noted for her particular expertise in mining, in which regard she assists clients with permitting and exploration matters. Client notes “Tarja gives constructive feedback to the client concerning the legal constraints that helps the client to target realistic goals.”
Björn Nykvist is a highly experienced partner who advises clients on power purchase agreements and wind farm transactions. Clients say
“Björn is very engaged and hard working. He is very knowledgeable about the market and legal concerns specific to energy.”
“Björn’s extensive expertise from various fields of law coupled with impeccable attention to detail has been invaluable help to us.”
“Björn is a very strong partner with outstanding expertise and a great way to make his clients feel well taken care of.”
Newly ranked partner Marius af Schultén is active in the energy arena, with expertise relating to environmental law and renewables. He has been particularly active in wind power projects and related financing.
Clients describe
“Marius provides great support and legal advise relevant for the specific issues of the energy deal and related regulatory topics.”
“His ability to see the legal wood for the trees has been priceless to us in many occasions.”
Real estate
HPP Attorneys assists clients with a variety of real estate deals, including portfolio transactions and M&A involving property-owning companies. The law firm has additional experience in lease negotiations. The department is knowledgeable in mandates relating to a range of office, retail and residential assets.
Clients describe
“On the real estate side, they are able to do complicated deals, but their highest value for us is their ability to manage complex clients who are not familiar with certain types of transactions.”
“They are highly solution-oriented and business-minded, and are able to provide relatively simple solutions to difficult problems, avoiding unnecessary legal clutter.”
Jari Tuomala is a respected lawyer who frequently advises on transactions involving commercial properties, including the acquisition of property-owning companies. He also has experience in the buying and selling of leaseholds. Clients note
“Jari is reliable, and he operates quickly but with attention to detail. As an experienced law practitioner, he has a much appreciated skill of presenting key factors of complex matters to clients in an understandable and trustworthy manner.”
“He has great ability to explain complex matters in language that non-professionals will understand. He also has the ability to work efficiently, concentrating on the really relevant matters.”
Leif Laitinen joins the rankings as an up-and-coming practitioner following notable market recognition. He advises funds, asset managers and investors on real estate transactions, including the acquisition of shares in housing companies. Client notes“Leif is a calm, smart and experienced lawyer who is pleasant to work with. His focus is on essential matters and he is efficient and focus-oriented in negotiations.”
Restructuring & Insolvency
HPP Attorneys’ respected insolvency practice often acts as administrator in bankruptcy proceedings. The firm’s lawyers also have experience as supervisor and administrator in restructuring programmes. The firm offers additional expertise representing creditors in proceedings relating to security arrangements and the realisation of assets, and is also well versed in wider contentious work.
Sami Uoti is often instructed as an administrator in restructuring and bankruptcy proceedings and is well regarded in this field.
Klaus Majamäki has considerable experience acting for creditors in bankruptcy and restructuring proceedings, as well as acting as an administrator. Client says “Klaus Majamäki has strong communication skills and an ability to negotiate on the essentials.”
TMT
HPP Attorneys possesses a strong TMT practice. The department is noted for its expertise in contract negotiations. The team also advises on IT outsourcing and procurement matters.
Clients describe
“I appreciate their in-depth views and capability for pragmatic solution-oriented and protective advice in both commercial items and litigation items.”
“HPP has strong capability and knowledge to handle complex and sophisticated matters.”
“They always come back to you very soon and they keep their promises.”
Kari-Matti Lehti assists technology sector clients with procurement and outsourcing matters, as well as advising on contract negotiations.
Pekka Raatikainen is known for his expertise in IT procurement and outsourcing matters. He also represents clients in contractual negotiations in the technology sector.
In addition to our practices above, our expertise in tax and intellectual property were noted:
Jaakko Klemettilä regularly assists clients with tax audits, transactional tax structuring and tax exemption assessments. One client says “Jaakko Klemettilä is very technically able and also commercially aware. He provides good guidance and has an understanding of wider market contexts.”
Henrik af Ursin advises clients on anti-counterfeiting litigation, unfair competition and IP portfolio management matters. He joined HPP Attorneys from Merilampi in November 2023.
Clients describe:
“Henrik has excellent knowledge of IP legislation and a good understanding of how the courts work and handle these things in Finland.”
“Henrik af Ursin has a good understanding of our issues.”
We are humbled by the continued recognition in the latest Chambers Europe rankings for 2024. We thank our clients and employees for helping us to be consistently recognised as one of the leading Finnish law firms comprising of leading lawyers.
