Dispute Resolution: Finland

This is an extremely well-regarded firm for dispute resolution, and it has been at the forefront of the field for many years. It acts on major deals both domestically and internationally, and its large team places great emphasis on arbitration as well as litigation. Marko Hentunen is widely recognised as one of the best lawyers in the field, and Niklas Langenskiöld is an extremely talented commercial litigator, with in-depth knowledge of maritime and insurance law. Tuomas Lehtinen acts on arbitration cases involving parties from Germany, Turkey and the UK. His specialist knowledge of banking means he is ideally placed to deal with commercial disputes in that area. Jouko Huhtala provides a wealth of experience to the team due to his long-standing activity in international and domestic arbitration, as well as commercial litigation.

This top-quality team has vast experience in both domestic and cross-border litigation. As well as maintaining its activity in complex litigation and arbitration proceedings, it has seen an upsurge of work in sectors such as construction and IP. With clients including SWECO and Nokia Siemens Networks, it upholds its dominant market position. Team leader Mika Savola is superb in arbitration, and is deemed "one of the most skilful lawyers in this field." Antti Järvinen is seen as "an extremely talented younger practitioner." Further expertise is provided by Antti Heikinheimo, a well-respected lawyer who is a long-standing leader in arbitration, and is now doing a considerable amount of ADR work. Ulla Vuokila is a talented practitioner who focuses on white-collar defence work.

With an extremely large team, this firm has the resources to act on major litigation cases. It frequently acts for the Republic of Finland, which it recently represented in a EUR20 million damages claim. In addition to its focus on M&A, company law and construction disputes, it is strong on patent litigation and other IP-related disputes. Its arbitration practice is expanding fast, and the team is handling many ICC arbitration cases. Markus Kokko heads the group and is strong in commercial litigation. Seppo Kemppinen is a leading name in IP and patent litigation, and a transport and maritime law specialist. Heidi Merikalla-Teir heads the arbitration practice, and is praised for her ability in this area both domestically and internationally.

This boutique firm specialises in dispute resolution and is making rapid progress, securing major litigation and arbitration both domestically and internationally. Patrik Lindfors is described as "the most brilliant external counsel in Finland." The addition of Petra Kiurunen, "a very strong player in international arbitration," has created a dedicated partner-driven operation. The close attention that this compact yet talented team pays to its clients leaves its customers feeling that "the lawyers treat the cases as if they were their own." Antti Summa is also highly recommended, and has been particularly active in IT disputes of late.

Despite the departure of Ari Kantor, this team continues to perform well in this area. It possesses a large pool of litigators with a variety of skills and specialisms. Jukka Laitasalo is an insolvency law specialist who is highly skilled in both domestic and international arbitration, whilst Jussi Ikonen is an excellent commercial litigator and arbitrator. Lassi Kettula and Mika Pakarinen provide further depth by specialising in EU and M&A law respectively, whilst Tapio Väätäinen has great experience in civil and criminal litigation.

This team maintains its high reputation in all aspects of law in Finland, including dispute resolution. Its strong presence in Stockholm has contributed to its appearance on major litigation cases in the pharmaceutical industry, acting for leading companies such as Pfizer. Under the stewardship of Petri Taivalkoski, seen as "one of the top three litigators in Finland," it specialises in IP and public procurement litigation, but is also strong in international arbitration, acting for clients such as Nokia. Further talent is provided by younger lawyers such as Gisela Knuts, making it a strong litigation unit.

This team attracts many clients for both arbitration and litigation. Its broad scope of specialisms, ranging from administrative law to labour law, highlights the firm's dedication to this area. Jan Waselius heads the team and is known as "one of the best arbitrators in Finland." Peers regard him as "a brilliant lawyer who knows how to present his arguments to the court impeccably." Tanja Jussila excels in arbitration concerning contractual disputes, and adds further quality to the team. She is described as "a real talent with a promising future." 

This compact yet high-quality team maintains a solid practice in this area. It handles a wide range of disputes and retains an excellent reputation. Sami Uoti is a highly regarded litigator, and is praised for his work in insolvency and other financial disputes. Petteri Sotamaa is another well-known litigator who has acted on several high-profile litigations of late. Mats Welin, who joined from Castrén & Snellman, is increasingly visible on domestic litigation cases.

A truly international firm, this office does a great deal of cross-border arbitration work, particularly in the construction industry. Tom Vapaavuori is a highly regarded litigator, especially in the employment law sector. He is flanked by Marko Wainio, who has more of a domestic focus, and both are seen as very strong lawyers in this field. Mikko Rajala and Harri Hynninen specialise in commercial litigation. The team acts for many of the large Finnish banks in litigation cases, as well as large software companies such as Xerox and Logica.

Specialising in employee contract disputes, this is a well-respected team. Clients are pleased by the level of partner attention that they receive. Jan Ollila excels in both arbitration and litigation relating to M&A and financing arrangements. Team leader Jussi Lehtinen is solely dedicated to this area of law, and described as "an incredibly sharp lawyer who sees the practical aspects of matters quickly." Petteri Uoti is known as a lawyer who "uses his knowledge to achieve great results for his customers," particularly in employment-related disputes. The team is praised for its adaptability and flexibility in meeting the business needs of its clients, and is consistently credited with finding the best possible commercial solutions.

Whilst not as large as some in Finland, this firm has a dedicated litigation team which is also starting to make a name for itself abroad. It has been busy with a range of disputes in areas such as competition, transport, maritime and insurance. Pekka Puhakka is seen as "one of the top lawyers in the field," and is also excelling in international arbitration. Kari Marttinen is strong in environmental law disputes, while Henrik Gahmberg offers expertise in maritime and transport cases. Jörgen Hammarström is highly respected for his skill in arbitration, with his many years of experience proving invaluable to the team.

This rapidly growing practice has gone from strength to strength, offering clients excellent coverage throughout the country. It has handled several cartel-related disputes, including its representation of several municipalities in one of the largest ever cartel cases in Finland. The mandate was led by the experienced Jari-Pekka Alho, famed for his "fast, creative and solution-oriented approach," as well as specialist partner Mikko Elonheimo. The team's clients include DNA, highlighting its strong expertise in the telecoms industry, as well as large banks such as Santander. Raimo Seppälä is also highly recommended in this area. The 26-strong group often handles IP-related cases, showing its breadth of expertise.

This relatively new firm has a team of modest size but is known for its talents in dispute resolution. The transactional background of both its partners makes it well suited to deal with post-acquisition disputes. Carita Wallgren-Lindholm, formerly a senior partner at Roschier, is extremely highly regarded and is seen as an experienced lawyer in the field. In addition, Tomas Lindholm is thought of as a top litigator.

A firm with a robust domestic practice, Sivenius, Suvanto & Co is continuing to act for corporate and private clients in both arbitration and litigation proceedings. The vastly experienced Juha Sivenius is a strong commercial litigator who also acts as an arbitrator. Kirsi Eksymä is forging a reputation as a highly capable litigator, and Olli Hoppu wins plaudits for his work representing some of Finland's biggest insurance companies.