Katja Heikkinen
Katja Heikkinen
Katja Heikkinen specialises in energy and infrastructure transactions and development projects. She is part of Hannes Snellman’s Helsinki-based Energy Team and has extensive experience in complex large-scale renewable energy and infrastructure transactions, joint ventures, and other cooperation arrangements, especially in the fields of onshore and offshore wind and solar power. In addition, Katja provides general advice during the development and operational phase on real estate, commercial, corporate, and contract law.
Prior to joining Hannes Snellman, Katja worked as an associate lawyer in another law firm and as a legal trainee in a major energy company. She also has a polytechnic degree in financial management and several years of experience in accounting.
References
Parties
Aneo, Greencoat Renewables
Transaction
Hannes Snellman acted as legal counsel to Aneo, Norway’s second-largest wind power operator, in its acquisition of the 43.2 MW Kokkoneva wind farm from Greencoat Renewables PLC.
Deal Value
Value not public.
Parties
ib vogt, Renewable Power Capital Nordics
Transaction
Legal advisor to ib vogt in its disposal of a 50 MW battery energy storage system (BESS) project to Renewable Power Capital Nordics. The BESS project is located in Kalanti, Uusikaupunki, in Southwest Finland, and is ready to be built. It is one of the larger BESS projects in development in Finland.
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to ib vogt
Parties
Valorem, Tribrid Renewables AB
Transaction
Legal counsel to Valorem in its entry to Swedish market upon the establishment of co-operation framework with Tribrid Renewables AB in relation to development of 1 GW of wind and solar projects in Sweden.
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to Valorem
Parties
Exilion
Transaction
Counsel to Exilion in respect of Exilion’s solar PV project in the municipality of Simo, Finland, with a planned nominal capacity of 70 MWp and an estimated annual production of 65,000 MWh. Once operational, the project will be one of the largest solar PV projects in Finland. Our team advised Exilion in respect of e.g. negotiating construction, supply, and services contracts.
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to Exilion
Hannes Snellman acted as counsel to Finnish state enterprise Metsähallitus in the negotiation of contractual arrangements with Vattenfall for the expansion of the Korsnäs offshore wind farm development project.
Hannes Snellman has been engaged by the Finnish state enterprise Metsähallitus in the Pyhäjoki-Raahe and Närpiö offshore wind power development projects. The envisaged nominal capacity of the projects is 3,000 MW.
Parties:
Myrsky Energia, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP)
Transaction:
Counsel to Myrsky Energia in the formation of a joint venture with Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) concerning the investment and development of 1.8 GW portfolio of onshore wind power in Finland.
Value:
EUR 2.3 billion
Role:
Counsel to Myrsky Energia
Parties:
Metsähallitus, Vattenfall
Transaction:
Counsel to the Finnish state enterprise Metsähallitus in the joint venture entered into with Vattenfall concerning Finland’s first large-scale offshore wind farm. Our assignment, commenced in 2021, entailed all legal aspects of the structured sales process followed by the creation of the joint venture and the contractual framework steering the development.
Deal Value:
Value not public
Role:
Counsel to Metsähallitus
Parties
Gasgrid Finland Oy
Transaction
Counsel to Gasgrid Finland Oy in connecting Hamina LNG terminal to the Finnish natural gas transmission network
Deal value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to Gasgrid Finland Oy
Parties:
Exilion Wind, BayWa r.e. Nordic
Transaction:
Exilion Wind's and BayWa r.e. Nordic's wind power joint venture. Through the joint venture, the co-investors will invest and develop the Karhakkamaa wind farm project, which is envisaged to consist of 48 wind turbines with an installed capacity of approximately 350MW.
Deal Value:
Value not public
Role:
Counsel to Exilion Wind
Parties
Finsilva
Transaction
Counsel to Finsilva in the development of Vermassalo wind farm
Deal value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to Finsilva
Counsel to Exilion in the Construction and Financing of Isokangas and Palokangas Wind Farms. The projects will be constructed in Ii in northern Ostrobothnia, Finland, and will have an aggregate capacity of 100MW. The estimated yearly production of the two wind farms will be around 320,000 MWh. Our team advised Exilion in respect of negotiating turbine supply and services, balance of plant and financing agreements.
Parties
Areim, Valio Pension Fund
Transaction
Acquisition of an office property, located in Helsinki at Kaikukatu 3 A, from Valio Pension Fund
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to Areim
Parties
Enersense International Oyj, Megatuuli Oy
Transaction
Enersense International Oyj, a provider of zero-emission energy solutions, has signed an agreement on acquiring shares of the onshore wind farm developer Megatuuli Oy.
Deal Value
EUR 18.5 million
Role
Counsel to Enersense International
Parties
Areim (Buyer), Assai Commercial Oy (Seller), Office and retail property (Target)
Transaction
Areim's acquisition of an office and retail property, located in Helsinki at Hämeentie 31
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to Areim
Parties
Castellum, Nyfosa
Transaction
Counsel to Castellum in its approximately EUR 200 million office property portfolio disposal to Nyfosa.
Deal Value
EUR 200 million
Role
Counsel to Castellum
Parties
Castellum, Kielo, Blackstone Tactical Opportunities, Brunswick Real Estate.
Transaction
Hannes Snellman acted as counsel to Castellum in its acquisition of property company Kielo from Blackstone Tactical Opportunities and Brunswick Real Estate.
Deal Value
EUR 640 million
Role
Counsel to Castellum
Parties
Barings, NRP
Transaction
Hannes Snellman acted as counsel to Barings in its EUR 86 million acquisition of a logistics property from NRP. The asset, located in the Helsinki region, comprises a logistics facility with a GLA of approximately 40,000m² and 170,000m² of outdoor dispatching and storage space.
Deal Value
EUR 86 million
Role
Counsel to Barings
Parties
YIT Oyj, OX2
Transaction
YIT Oyj's disposal of Finland’s largest wind power development project to OX2. The project consists of 72 wind turbine construction locations with the required permits, enabling a total capacity of approximately 400 MW, and the construction of a new 400-kV transmission line.
Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to YIT Oyj
Parties
YIT Oyj, Ålandsbanken Wind Power Fund
Transaction
YIT Oyj's wind power development project with Ålandsbanken Wind Power Fund, where YIT agreed to sell the project, deliver the balance of plant construction works and manage the construction of the wind farm until commencement of the operation. The aggregate maximum production capacity of the project is 90 MW.
Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to YIT Oyj
Parties
Tornator Oyj, OX2
Transaction
Tornator Oyj's disposal of a wind development project portfolio to OX2. The portfolio comprises development phase wind parks with an aggregate maximum production capacity of 600 MW, representing approximately MEUR 600 investments when in operation
Value
EUR 600 million
Role
Counsel to Tornator Oyj
Parties
Exilion Tuuli (Buyer), St1 (Seller)
Transaction
Exilion Tuuli's transaction whereby Exilion Tuuli acquired the wind power production and development business of St1
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to Exilion Tuuli
Counsel to Areim in the disposal of an office property (Martintalo). The office property, which was built in 1992, is located in Vantaa in the Greater Helsinki area, and it comprises 14,000 square meters of office space.
Counsel to Metsähallitus in its divestment of the development stage wind power project of Tolpanvaara comprising up to 22 wind turbine positions to Enefit Green, a renewable energy subsidiary of the Estonian state-owned energy group Eesti Energia.
Parties
YIT Corporation, Suomen Hyötytuuli Oy
Transaction
YIT's divestment of a pre-construction stage wind power project of Peuralinna to Suomen Hyötytuuli Oy
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to YIT Corporation
Counsel to LähiTuuli in the development and divestment of a pre-construction stage wind power project of Metsälamminkangas to OX2.
Parties
Schroder Nordic Real Estate Fund (Buyer), Genesta (Seller)
Transaction
Schroder Nordic Real Estate Fund's financing and acquisition of 11,230m² office building in Helsinki from Genesta, acting on behalf of Genesta Nordic Real Estate Fund II (GNRE Fund II)
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to Schroder Nordic Real Estate Fund
Parties
Patrizia Immobilien AG (Seller), Special Investment Fund eQ Finnish Real Estate (Buyer)
Transaction
Patrizia Immobilien AG's divestment of an office building in Helsinki to Special Investment Fund eQ Finnish Real Estate
Deal Value
EUR 41 million
Role
Counsel to Patrizia Immobilien AG
Parties
Metsähallitus (Seller), OX2 (Buyer)
Transaction
Metsähallitus' divestment of a pre-construction stage wind power project to OX2
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to Metsähallitus
Parties
Areim Fund III (Buyer), Avant Capital Partners, Varma Mutual Pension Insurance Company, EPISO 4 fund (Sellers)
Transaction
Areim Fund's acquisition of a portfolio of eight office properties from Avant Capital Partners, Varma Mutual Pension Insurance Company and EPISO 4 fund advised by Tristan Capital Partners
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to Areim Fund III
Parties
Metsähallitus (Seller), Enefit Green (Buyer), a JV of Ilmatar Windpower Oyj and Omnes Capital managed Capenergie 3 (Buyer)
Transaction
Metsähallitus' divestment of two pre-construction stage wind power projects with an aggregate output of approximately 300 megawatts. The projects were divested, respectively, to Enefit Green, a renewables subsidiary of the Estonian state-owned energy company Eesti Energia, and to a JV of Ilmatar Windpower Oyj and Omnes Capital managed Capenergie 3.
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to Metsähallitus
Parties
Kojamo plc (Seller), a fund managed by Morgan Stanley Real Estate Investing (Buyer)
Transaction
Kojamo plc's disposal of 1,594 non-restricted rental apartments to a fund managed by Morgan Stanley Real Estate Investing
Deal Value
EUR 97 million
Role
Counsel to Kojamo plc
Parties
A fund managed by J.P. Morgan Asset Management (Seller), a fund managed by Genesta (Buyer)
Transaction
J.P. Morgan Asset Management's disposal of a 66,680 sqm logistics property in Espoo to a fund managed by Genesta
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to J.P. Morgan
Parties
Schroder
Transaction
Schroder's (acting on behalf of Schroder Nordic Real Estate Fund) acquisition of a portfolio of nine office properties located in the Greater Helsinki area with a total lettable area of approx. 53,000 sqm
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to Schroder
Parties
Fund managed by Barings Real Estate Advisers (Buyer), The Confederation of Finnish Construction Industries RT (Seller)
Transaction
The acquisition of an office-to-hotel conversion project from the Confederation of Finnish Construction Industries RT, by a fund managed by Barings Real Estate Advisers
Deal Value
EUR 16.3 million
Role
Counsel to Barings Real Estate Advisers
Parties
J.P. Morgan Asset Management fund (Seller), Alma Property Partners I AB (Buyer)
Transaction
The disposal of four office properties in the Keilaniemi business district of Espoo, Finland by a J.P. Morgan Asset Management fund to Alma Property Partners I AB
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to J.P. Morgan
Parties
Barings Real Estate Advisers (Buyer), CapMan (Seller)
Transaction
The acquisition of Entresse shopping mall from CapMan, by a fund managed by Barings Real Estate Advisers
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to Barings Real Estate Advisers
Parties
TH Real Estate (Buyer), Barings Real Estate Advisers (Seller), Kamppi shopping centre (Target)
Transaction
Counsel to Barings Real Estate Advisers, acting on behalf of the Nordic Retail Fund in its disposal of 50% stake in the Kamppi shopping centre. The 50% stake is to be acquired on behalf of TH Real Estate’s flagship’s pan-European investment vehicle, the European Cities Fund, and thereby creating a 50:50 joint venture partnership with Allianz.
Deal Value
Approx. EUR 500 million
Role
Counsel to Barings Real Estate Advisers
Parties
J.P. Morgan Asset Management (Seller); Genesta (Buyer)
Transaction
Disposal of a 11,200 sqm office property in Helsinki by a fund managed by J.P. Morgan Asset Management to a fund managed by Genesta
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to J.P. Morgan Asset Management
Parties
VVO's Major Residential Portfolio Disposal
Transaction
VVO's disposal of 1,344 non-restricted rental apartments to a company managed by Avant Capital Partners
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to VVO Group plc.
Parties
Eurus Energy Holdings Corporation (Buyer), Maas Capital Renewables (Seller) and YARD ENERGY (Seller)
Transaction
Eurus Energy Holdings Corporation's acquisition of two wind farms in Finland from Maas Capital Renewables and YARD ENERGY
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to Eurus Energy Holdings Corporation
Parties
Fund managed by PATRIZIA Immobilien AG (Buyer), Fennia Life Insurance Company Ltd. (Seller)
Transaction
PATRIZIA Immobilien AG fund's acquisition of a 9,000 sqm office property from Fennia Life Insurance Company Ltd.
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to a fund managed by PATRIZIA Immobilien AG
Parties
Metsähallitus (Seller), Taaleri Plc private equity fund and Loiste Energia Oy (Buyers)
Transaction
Metsähallitus' divestment of wind farm project to Taaleri Plc private equity fund and Loiste Energia Oy
Deal Value
EUR 110 million
Role
Counsel to Metsähallitus
Parties
Veolia, Neste and Borealis
Transaction
A transaction creating a JV with Neste and Borealis to build a new combined heat and power plant and produce and supply steam and other utilities to Neste's refinery and Borealis' petrochemical plant in Porvoo, Finland
Deal Value
Approximately EUR 350 million
Role
Counsel to Veolia
Parties
Ratos AB, Varma Mutual Pension Insurance Company, Redito AB, Serena Properties AB
Transaction
Counsel to Ratos AB (publ), Varma Mutual Pension Insurance Company and Redito AB in a formation of Serena Properties AB
Deal Value
The new fund will acquire 22 properties from Varma for its initial portfolio. The combined value of the properties is approx. EUR 191.5 million
Role
Counsel to Ratos AB (publ), Varma Mutual Pension Insurance Company and Redito AB
Parties
Niam (Buyer), Helsingin Osuuskauppa Elanto (Seller), Kaari shopping centre (Target)
Transaction
Niam's acquisition of the Kaari shopping centre, the ninth largest shopping centre in Finland, and five freehold plots around the shopping centre.
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to Niam
Counsel to TuuliWatti Oy in permitting of several wind farms in Finland.
Counsel to Metsähallitus in its divestment of two pre-construction stage wind power projects (envisaged to comprise a total of 64 wind power plants with an aggregate output of approximately 166 megawatts) to a JV owned by Taaleritehtaan Tuulitehdas II Ky and Loiste Energia Oy.
Rankings
- "Drive, juridical knowledge.", IFLR1000, 2023
Memberships and Positions of Trust
- Member of the Finnish Bar Association
Publications
- Article "Electronic Bills of Lading and Some Finnish Considerations" published in Marlus 459 (by Scandinavian Institute of Maritime Law, 2015)
Education and Professional Background
- Specialist Partner, Hannes Snellman, 2024
- Managing Associate, Hannes Snellman, 2021
- Senior Associate, Hannes Snellman, 2019
- Associate Lawyer, Hannes Snellman, 2015
- Associate Lawyer, Bergmann Attorneys at Law, 2014-2015
- Master of Laws, University of Helsinki, 2014
- Legal Trainee, Neste Shipping Oy, 2013
- University of Sheffield, 2012-2013
- Bachelor of Business Administration, Haaga-Helia, 2010