People

Maria Aholainen

Counsel

Maria advises our clients with privacy and data protection law, telecommunications law, and commercial contracts. She advises on all aspects of data protection issues, including multi-jurisdictional GDPR projects and data transfer projects, contract negotiations, data protection disputes, and strategic advice.  

Prior to joining Hannes Snellman, Maria worked in a data protection group of a global law firm (20162022). Before transitioning into private practice in 2016, Maria worked as a lawyer at the Ministry of Transport and Communications and was responsible for data protection in electronic communications.  

Maria is recognised as a rising star in the Legal 500 EMEA 2023, TMT and holds an international certification in privacy and data protection (CIPP/E) awarded by IAPP. 


References

Parties

Patria Oyj

Transaction

Hannes Snellman acted as counsel to Patria in relation to its data regulation project. Our team assisted Patria in navigating the EU’s new data regulations, particularly the Data Act and AI Act, to ensure compliance and leverage strategic advantages. The project involved a comprehensive review of Patria’s operations, an analysis of Patria’s alignment with the EU’s data regulations, and the development of a roadmap to ensure compliance.

Deal Value

Value not public

Role

Counsel to Patria Oyj

Jesper Nevalainen

Jesper Nevalainen

Partner
jesper.nevalainen@hannessnellman.com
Lasse Riski

Lasse Riski

Specialist Partner
lasse.riski@hannessnellman.com
Maria Aholainen

Maria Aholainen

Counsel
maria.aholainen@hannessnellman.com
Axel Hård af Segerstad

Axel Hård af Segerstad

Associate
axel.hard@hannessnellman.com

Counsel to Sibanye-Stillwater’s European operations with their GDPR implementation project, including drafting and implementing governance framework, privacy policies and processes, global transfers, and GDPR trainings.

Jesper Nevalainen

Jesper Nevalainen

Partner
jesper.nevalainen@hannessnellman.com
Maria Aholainen

Maria Aholainen

Counsel
maria.aholainen@hannessnellman.com
Simon Mittler

Simon Mittler

Associate
simon.mittler@hannessnellman.com
Wilhelm Sanmark

Wilhelm Sanmark

Associate
wilhelm.sanmark@hannessnellman.com

Parties

Cargotec Corporation and Kalmar Corporation

Transaction

Cargotec’s partial demerger and separation of Kalmar

Deal Value

Approx. EUR 2.0 billion (illustrative carve-out sales)

Role

Counsel to Cargotec Corporation and Kalmar Corporation

Antti Kuha

Antti Kuha

Partner
antti.kuha@hannessnellman.com
Mikko Heinonen

Mikko Heinonen

Partner
mikko.heinonen@hannessnellman.com
Annemari Rosi

Annemari Rosi

Senior Associate
annemari.rosi@hannessnellman.com
Linnea Lehtonen

Linnea Lehtonen

Senior Associate
linnea.lehtonen@hannessnellman.com
Tommi Kovero

Tommi Kovero

Senior Associate
tommi.kovero@hannessnellman.com
Claes Backström

Claes Backström

Associate
claes.backstrom@hannessnellman.com
Charlotta Palm

Charlotta Palm

Associate
charlotta.palm@hannessnellman.com
Julius Lempiäinen

Julius Lempiäinen

Associate
julius.lempiainen@hannessnellman.com
Heikki Vesikansa

Heikki Vesikansa

Partner
heikki.vesikansa@hannessnellman.com
Harri Vehviläinen

Harri Vehviläinen

Specialist Partner
harri.vehvilainen@hannessnellman.com
Isabella Kartila

Isabella Kartila

Senior Associate
isabella.kartila@hannessnellman.com
Anna-Emilia Vuorenmaa

Anna-Emilia Vuorenmaa

Associate
anna-emilia.vuorenmaa@hannessnellman.com
Markus Bremer

Markus Bremer

Partner
markus.bremer@hannessnellman.com
Josefina Aalto

Josefina Aalto

Counsel
josefina.aalto@hannessnellman.com
Jesper Nevalainen

Jesper Nevalainen

Partner
jesper.nevalainen@hannessnellman.com
Panu Siitonen

Panu Siitonen

Partner
panu.siitonen@hannessnellman.com
Lasse Riski

Lasse Riski

Specialist Partner
lasse.riski@hannessnellman.com
Maria Aholainen

Maria Aholainen

Counsel
maria.aholainen@hannessnellman.com
Wilhelm Sanmark

Wilhelm Sanmark

Associate
wilhelm.sanmark@hannessnellman.com
Simon Mittler

Simon Mittler

Associate
simon.mittler@hannessnellman.com
Johanna Haltia-Tapio

Johanna Haltia-Tapio

Specialist Partner
johanna.haltia-tapio@hannessnellman.com
Annika Sillanpää

Annika Sillanpää

Associate
annika.sillanpaa@hannessnellman.com
Oona Eerola

Oona Eerola

Associate
oona.eerola@hannessnellman.com
Essi Svartling

Essi Svartling

Counsel
essi.svartling@hannessnellman.com
Noora Britschgi

Noora Britschgi

Senior Associate
noora.britschgi@hannessnellman.com
Päivi Tammilehto

Päivi Tammilehto

Counsel
paivi.tammilehto@hannessnellman.com
Monika Parkkinen

Monika Parkkinen

Legal Assistant
monika.parkkinen@hannessnellman.com
Anni Nohteri

Anni Nohteri

Legal Assistant
anni.nohteri@hannessnellman.com

Counsel to a Finnish delivery company in an appeal under GDPR to the Helsinki Administrative Court and the Supreme Administrative Court in Finland *

(*=references from prior to joining Hannes Snellman)

Seconded Counsel to an airline in a multi-jurisdictional privacy compliance project in Hong Kong aiming to achieve compliance with both GDPR and data protection law in Hong Kong*

(*=references from prior to joining Hannes Snellman)

Counsel to a US-based technology company in a GDPR implementation project in Europe, including all mandatory GDPR documentation*

(*=references from prior to joining Hannes Snellman)

Counsel to a media company in a contract and data transfer project*

(*=references from prior to joining Hannes Snellman)

Counsel to a global IT company in a cross-border data transfer project (BCR project)*

(*=references from prior to joining Hannes Snellman)


Rankings

  • Rising Star, TMT, Legal 500, 2024
  • Counsel Maria Aholainen has notable expertise in data protection work.”, Legal 500 EMEA 2023, TMT

Memberships and Positions of Trust

  • Member of the Finnish Bar Association
  • Member of the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP)
  • Member of the Finnish IT Law Association
  • Certified information Privacy Professional (CIPP/E)

Education and Professional Background

  • Counsel, Hannes Snellman, Helsinki, 2022 
  • Senior Associate, Bird & Bird Attorneys Ltd, 20192022 
  • Associate, Bird & Bird Attorneys Ltd, 20162022 
  • Senior Officer / Lawyer, The Ministry of Transport and Communications in Finland, 20152016 
  • Master of Laws, University of Helsinki, 2015 
  • Bachelor of Laws, University of Helsinki, 2014 
  • Bachelor of Arts, University of Helsinki, 2013