Languages

English, Finnish

Assistant

Sarianna Asukka

Markus Manninen

Partner Dispute Resolution

Languages

English, Finnish

Assistant

Sarianna Asukka

Markus focuses on M&A and company law related disputes, compliance, and general commercial dispute resolution. He advises domestic and international clients in their internal and external compliance investigations and enforcement proceedings. He represents clients in M&A disputes relating to purchase price adjustments, damages claims, and share redemptions. In the field of general commercial disputes, Markus has litigated and arbitrated cases relating to, e.g., international trade, construction projects, insurance contracts, and lease agreements. He has extensive experience on injunction proceedings.

Markus regularly represents Finnish and foreign corporations in both domestic and international ad hoc arbitrations and in arbitrations administered by various institutional rules (including FAI, ICC, SCAI, and SIAC). In addition, Markus frequently serves as an arbitrator in both ad hoc and administered arbitration proceedings.

References

  • Counsel to Outokumpu Corporation in an International ICC Arbitration, 2025
  • Counsel to an international consortium in arbitral proceedings concerning the redemption of minority shares in a Finnish listed software company following a public tender offer
  • Counsel to a sports federation in a disciplinary matter concerning unethical and inappropriate behaviour by an individual
  • Counsel to a client in multi-million euro appeal proceedings regarding the redemption of minority shareholders of a major Finnish company, successfully overturning the arbitral award
  • Successfully represented a client in court proceedings against a multi-million arbitral award enforcement request
  • Counsel to several energy sector companies in a dispute (including an eventual complex settlement) over abuse of influence by a shareholder, share redemption, and related matters
  • Counsel to a creditor in a dispute over the repayment of a shareholder loan in the energy sector
  • Counsel to a major Finnish listed corporation in an international multi-million ICC arbitration concerning alleged defective supply of machinery as well as related injunction and damages claim proceedings in several instances of national courts
  • Counsel to an international organisation as an investigator in a matter concerning suspected harassment, discrimination, and financial misconduct over an extended period of time
  • Counsel to a significant Finnish company as an investigator in an internal investigation regarding substantial financial misconduct and alleged derelictions, 2021
  • Counsel to a leading Finnish company by successfully representing them in an external investigation concerning alleged breach of applicable regulations
  • Advised a large Finnish company in a high-profile external compliance investigation relating to alleged misappropriation of funds
  • Represented a Finnish listed company in external compliance investigations relating to stock exchange releases. The investigation did not lead to disciplinary actions
  • Advised a Finnish listed company in internal and external compliance investigations and related multi-million insurance and criminal proceedings
  • Represented a Finnish company against its former shareholders in an earn-out dispute before an independent expert
  • Represented a Finnish corporation against an Italian subcontractor in a litigation concerning breach of contract and defective goods
  • Represented major Finnish insurance companies against a government organisation in a domestic arbitration concerning the interpretation of a shareholders’ agreement
  • Represented a Finnish corporation in squeeze-out proceedings against the minority shareholders of another listed company
  • Represented a Finnish listed company against a Latin American counterparty in a multi-million euro dispute over the termination of a distribution agreement and unlawful use of our client’s intellectual property rights
  • Represented a Finnish investment company against another investment company in an arbitration based on the Finnish Limited Liability Companies Act. The value of the dispute exceeded EUR 17 million
  • President of the panel, sole arbitrator, or a co-arbitrator in more than 40 arbitrations

Rankings

  • Clients say: "Markus Manninen and his team are quick to answer, reliable and business-oriented. They have a proactive way of handling the cases.", "Markus Manninen provides consistently excellent and business-oriented service.", Dispute Resolution, Legal 500, 2025
  • Ranked in Dispute Resolution, Chambers Europe 2025
  • Ranked in Dispute Resolution, Chambers Global 2025
  • Chambers, Dispute Resolution (Finland), Band 4, 2024
  • Ranked as Future Leader in Who’s Who Legal, Arbitration (Finland), 2023
  • Ranked as one of the Thought Leaders in the Who's Who Legal – Sports & Gaming, 2021-2024 editions
  • "Markus Manninen is one of those very trusted advisers, with exceptional analytical skills, providing advice that is well thought through from every angle.", Dispute Resolution, Legal 500, 2024
  • "Markus Manninen is very hands-on and always available to support on short notice even in quasi-legal topics.", Dispute Resolution, Legal 500, 2024
  • "Markus Manninen is a great dispute resolution lawyer.", Dispute Resolution, Legal 500, 2024
  • “He is highly skilled and pleasant to work with”, Chambers Europe, 2024
  • “Markus Manninen demonstrates remarkable skills in integrating profound legal knowledge with strategic thinking and a composed demeanour.” Chambers Global, 2024
  • "Markus has long experience in dispute resolution and litigation. He presents his thoughts precisely and gives clear answers.", Dispute Resolution, Legal 500, 2023
  • "Markus is highly skilled and pleasant to work with.", Dispute Resolution, Chambers Global, 2023
  • '"A gifted and committed expert in sports law" who is highly sought after for his top-drawer arbitration practice.', Who's Who Legal: Sports & Gaming, 2022 Edition
  • 'Markus Manninen stands out because of 1) his in-depth knowledge and experience, 2) true customer orientation, 3) ability to create trust and confidence, 4) ability in creating various options for strategy and tactics for the case and making them understandable for us. I am impressed.', Dispute Resolution, Legal 500, 2021
  • 'Markus Manninen is an outstanding arbitrator.', Dispute Resolution, Legal 500, 2020
  • Ranked among the best lawyers in the 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017 editions (Helsinki: Arbitration and Mediation, Litigation and Sports Law) of Best Lawyers®
  • Listed among the World’s Leading Sports Lawyers (Finland) in Who’s Who Legal Sports and Entertainment: Sport 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2023

Memberships and Positions of Trust

  • Chairman of the Procedure Committee of the Delegation of the Finnish Bar Association
  • Member of the Finnish Bar Association
  • Member of the Finnish Arbitration Association
  • Member of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), Lausanne, Switzerland
  • Vice-chairman of the Disciplinary Board of the Finnish Bar Association (2014–2018)

Professional Background

  • Partner, Hannes Snellman, 2020–
  • Specialist Partner, Hannes Snellman, 2018–2019
  • Counsel, Hannes Snellman, 2012–2018
  • Senior Associate, Hannes Snellman, 2007–2011
  • Trained on the Bench, District Court of Loviisa, 2005
  • Associate, Hannes Snellman, 2003–2006

Education

  • Licentiate in Laws, University of Helsinki, 2014
  • Master of Economic Sciences, Helsinki School of Economics, 2005
  • Master of Laws, University of Helsinki, 2003

Publications

  • New ethical and disciplinary rules by the Finnish Olympic Committee, Sports Law & Taxation Vol.11 No.4 December 2020 (co-author)
  • Co-author of the Finnish Chapter in the Global Practice Guide: Litigation 2020 by Chambers & Partners
  • Doping: Legal challenges posed by low concentration of a non-threshold substance (Global Sports Law and Taxation Reports, 2018)
  • Doping: Proof of source – a prerequisite for an unintentional anti-doping rule violation? (Global Sports Law and Taxation Reports, 2018)
  • “Unless Fairness Requires Otherwise”- A Review of Exceptions to Retroactive Disqualification of Competitive Results for Doping Offenses (CAS Bulletin, 2017)
  • “Lex mitior”: reduction in the period of ineligibility under art. 25.3 of the World Anti-Doping Code (Global Sports Law and Taxation Reports, 2016)
  • Re-analysis of a doping sample - delay not attributable to the athlete? (Global Sports Law and Taxation Reports, 2015)
  • Key case law on attempts to circumvent FIFA’s Training Compensation System (LawInSport, 2014)
  • Anti-Doping Code 2015 - Stricter Sanctions and Investigations (2014)
  • The evolution of hGH cases: Veerpalu, Lallukka and Sinkewitz (Global Sports Law and Taxation Reports, 2014)
  • Retroactive Disqualification of Competitive Results for Doping Offences (2013)
  • Second Anti-Doping Rule Violation (2012)
  • The Finnish Match Fixing Scandal (Global Sports Law and Taxation Reports, 2012)
  • Refusal and Other Evasion of Doping Test (2011)
  • FINADA Supervisory Board and its Decisions 2009-2010 (2010)