Hannes Snellman successfully represented UPM in landmark damages litigations

The longstanding litigations in relation to competition infringements in the Finnish raw wood market have today come to an end. The Supreme Court denied Metsähallitus, the Finnish Forest Administration, leave to appeal. Consequently, the judgment of the Helsinki Court of Appeal rejecting Metsähallitus’ claims in full remains final. The related proceedings initiated by private forest owners and municipalities had previously ended following court decisions dismissing all claims. 

Hannes Snellman successfully represented UPM-Kymmene Oyj (“UPM”) in this largest ever Finnish follow-on damages litigation in which Metsähallitus originally claimed a capital amount of nearly 282 million euros in damages jointly and severally from Finnish forestry companies Stora Enso, UPM and Metsäliitto. 

The over 1500 individual claims by private forest owners, municipalities and Metsähallitus were initiated in 2011-2015. The Hannes Snellman team defending UPM consisted of partners Antti Järvinen, Mikael Wahlbeck and Anna-Maria Tamminen, assisted by Senior Associate Lotta Hemmi, as well as Associates Pirjo Autio, Tiia Heikkinen and Anette Laulajainen. The team worked in close cooperation with the in-house legal team of UPM and economic experts.