Languages

English, Finnish

Assistant

Karoliina Kaartinen

Katja Heikkinen

Specialist Partner Energy & Infrastructure Transactions

Languages

English, Finnish

Assistant

Karoliina Kaartinen

Katja advises clients in our Real Assets Practice, which is a multi-disciplinary group of experienced lawyers whose expertise cuts across energy, infrastructure, real estate, construction, environment, and projects.

Katja specialises in energy and infrastructure transactions and projects. She has extensive experience in complex, large-scale renewable energy and infrastructure transactions, joint ventures, and other cooperation arrangements, particularly in the fields of onshore and offshore wind power, solar photovoltaic, and battery energy storage systems. Additionally, Katja provides general advice during the development and operational phases of assets on real estate, commercial, corporate, and contract law.

Selected References

Hannes Snellman acted as local counsel to SEB Nordic Energy's portfolio company, Locus Energy AB, a long-term active owner and developer of local infrastructure for sustainable energy production in the Nordic region, in the establishment of a partnership and cooperation framework with Ingrid Capacity to develop and construct a battery energy storage system (BESS) in the City of Nivala, Finland. Upon completion, this BESS will be the largest of its kind in Finland and one of the largest in the Nordics.

Contacts

Parties

Locus Energy Ab, SUSI Renewable Energy Fund II

Transaction

Hannes Snellman acted as counsel to Locus Energy Ab, a long-term active owner and developer of local infrastructure for sustainable energy production in the Nordic region, in its acquisition of portfolio of three operating Finnish wind farms from SUSI Renewable Energy Fund II. The wind farms Pirttiselkä, Leppävirta and Muntila consists of 13 wind turbine generators and contribute approximately 125 GWh in annual production.

Deal Value

Not public

Role

Counsel to Locus Energy Ab, a long-term active owner and developer of local infrastructure for sustainable energy production in the Nordic region, in its acquisition of portfolio of three operating Finnish wind farms from SUSI Renewable Energy Fund II

Contacts

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.

Contacts

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

Contacts

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

Contacts

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

Contacts

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.

Contacts

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.

 

Contacts

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

Contacts

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

Contacts

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

 

 

Contacts

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

Contacts

Parties

Finsilva 

Transaction

Counsel to Finsilva in the development of Vermassalo wind farm

Deal value 

Value not public

Role 

Counsel to Finsilva

Contacts

  • Tapio Teräkivi

    Senior Partner +358 40 769 8273 tapio.terakivi@hannessnellman.com

  • Katja Heikkinen

    Specialist Partner +358 44 310 0290 katja.heikkinen@hannessnellman.com

  • Julia Ranta

    Senior Associate +358 50 468 8309 julia.ranta@hannessnellman.com

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.

Contacts

  • Maria Landtman

    Partner +358 50 388 9468 maria.landtman@hannessnellman.com

  • Katja Perätalo

    Partner +358 44 505 3764 katja.peratalo@hannessnellman.com

  • Heikki Majamaa

    Specialist Partner +358 44 544 2873 heikki.majamaa@hannessnellman.com

  • Katja Heikkinen

    Specialist Partner +358 44 310 0290 katja.heikkinen@hannessnellman.com

  • Julia Ranta

    Senior Associate +358 50 468 8309 julia.ranta@hannessnellman.com

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

Contacts

  • Tapio Teräkivi

    Senior Partner +358 40 769 8273 tapio.terakivi@hannessnellman.com

  • Antti Nyberg

    Partner +358 40 838 9375 antti.nyberg@hannessnellman.com

  • Heikki Majamaa

    Specialist Partner +358 44 544 2873 heikki.majamaa@hannessnellman.com

  • Katja Heikkinen

    Specialist Partner +358 44 310 0290 katja.heikkinen@hannessnellman.com

  • Panu Vikberg

    Senior Associate +358 50 411 4452 panu.vikberg@hannessnellman.com

  • Marika Sorsa

    Counsel +358 40 707 1441 marika.sorsa@hannessnellman.com

  • Hanna Lindberg

    Associate +358 50 405 7168 hanna.lindberg@hannessnellman.com

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

Contacts

  • Tapio Teräkivi

    Senior Partner +358 40 769 8273 tapio.terakivi@hannessnellman.com

  • Riikka Rannikko

    Partner +358 40 731 1611 riikka.rannikko@hannessnellman.com

  • Katja Heikkinen

    Specialist Partner +358 44 310 0290 katja.heikkinen@hannessnellman.com

  • Robert Gordin

    Senior Associate +358 44 079 9799 robert.gordin@hannessnellman.com

  • Anna Mäkinen

    Associate +358 50 494 9159 anna.makinen@hannessnellman.com

  • Emmi Malm (née Nuutila)

    Senior Associate +358 40 731 8200 emmi.malm@hannessnellman.com

  • Julia Ranta

    Senior Associate +358 50 468 8309 julia.ranta@hannessnellman.com

  • Vivi Jaatinen

    Legal Assistant +358 40 821 5939 vivi.jaatinen@hannessnellman.com

  • Salla Mäki

    Senior Legal Assistant +358 40 718 6808 salla.maki@hannessnellman.com

  • Anni Ollus

    Senior Legal Assistant +358 50 536 5594 anni.ollus@hannessnellman.com

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

Contacts

  • Tapio Teräkivi

    Senior Partner +358 40 769 8273 tapio.terakivi@hannessnellman.com

  • Katja Heikkinen

    Specialist Partner +358 44 310 0290 katja.heikkinen@hannessnellman.com

  • Panu Vikberg

    Senior Associate +358 50 411 4452 panu.vikberg@hannessnellman.com

  • Antti Nyberg

    Partner +358 40 838 9375 antti.nyberg@hannessnellman.com

  • Marika Sorsa

    Counsel +358 40 707 1441 marika.sorsa@hannessnellman.com

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

Contacts

  • Tapio Teräkivi

    Senior Partner +358 40 769 8273 tapio.terakivi@hannessnellman.com

  • Katja Heikkinen

    Specialist Partner +358 44 310 0290 katja.heikkinen@hannessnellman.com

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

Contacts

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

Contacts

  • Tapio Teräkivi

    Senior Partner +358 40 769 8273 tapio.terakivi@hannessnellman.com

  • Katja Heikkinen

    Specialist Partner +358 44 310 0290 katja.heikkinen@hannessnellman.com

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

Contacts

  • Tapio Teräkivi

    Senior Partner +358 40 769 8273 tapio.terakivi@hannessnellman.com

  • Katja Heikkinen

    Specialist Partner +358 44 310 0290 katja.heikkinen@hannessnellman.com

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

Contacts

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

 

Contacts

  • Tapio Teräkivi

    Senior Partner +358 40 769 8273 tapio.terakivi@hannessnellman.com

  • Katja Heikkinen

    Specialist Partner +358 44 310 0290 katja.heikkinen@hannessnellman.com

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

Contacts

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.

Contacts

  • Tapio Teräkivi

    Senior Partner +358 40 769 8273 tapio.terakivi@hannessnellman.com

  • Katja Heikkinen

    Specialist Partner +358 44 310 0290 katja.heikkinen@hannessnellman.com

  • Panu Vikberg

    Senior Associate +358 50 411 4452 panu.vikberg@hannessnellman.com

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.

Contacts

  • Tapio Teräkivi

    Senior Partner +358 40 769 8273 tapio.terakivi@hannessnellman.com

  • Katja Heikkinen

    Specialist Partner +358 44 310 0290 katja.heikkinen@hannessnellman.com

Rankings

  • "Drive, juridical knowledge.", IFLR1000, 2023

Memberships and Positions of Trust

  • Member of the Finnish Bar Association

Professional Background

  • Specialist Partner, Hannes Snellman, 2024–
  • Managing Associate, Hannes Snellman, 2021–2024
  • Senior Associate, Hannes Snellman, 2019–2021
  • Associate, Hannes Snellman, 2015–2019
  • Bergmann Attorneys at Law, 2014–2015

Education

  • Master of Laws, University of Helsinki, 2014
  • Bachelor of Business Administration, Haaga-Helia, 2010

Publications

  • Article "Electronic Bills of Lading and Some Finnish Considerations" published in Marlus 459 (by Scandinavian Institute of Maritime Law, 2015)