Our Infrastructure and Energy team is experienced in large transactions, infrastructure and energy projects, and in strategic regulatory advice in this sector. The team also includes lawyers with in-depth expertise in energy law and various regulatory matters affecting the energy sector.
We have been involved in some of the largest infrastructure and energy projects and transactions in our home markets. These include nuclear power plants, various renewable energy assets, and some of the largest energy distribution deals in our markets, and we have also worked on many Finnish PPP projects.
We have advised international infrastructure funds, lenders, utilities, construction companies, and public bodies, including the Finnish Government and major Finnish cities.
Infrastructure & Energy practice is a part of our cross-border Real Assets service concept combining our offerings to the Environment & Natural Resources, Infrastructure & Energy, Projects & Construction, and Real Estate sectors into a coordinated, multi-disciplinary advice to our clients.
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.
Counsel to the State of Finland and its Defence Forces in the project to procure a fighter aircraft system to replace its current fleet of 64 F/A-18 Hornet aircraft.
Deal value
EUR 10 billion
Role
Counsel to the State of Finland and its Defence Forces.
The electricity to be sold by Exilion under the 10-year PPA will be produced in Exilion’s Ii Palokangas wind farm, which is under construction in Northern Ostrobothnia.
Counsel to OX2 in respect of the construction contracts for full grid and balance of plant (including transmission line, balance of plant works, substation, and transformers) in respect of the 145,2 MW Niinimäki wind farm in the municipality of Pieksämäki, Finland.
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.
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.
Hannes Snellman has been engaged by the Finnish state enterprise Metsähallitus in the Korsnäs offshore wind power development project. The envisaged minimum nominal capacity of the project is 1300 MW, entailing 70–100 turbines with a capacity of 12–20 MW each.
Counsel to OX2 in respect of the balance of plant construction contracts for a portfolio of onshore wind projects in Finland with a capacity totalling 154 MW. The portfolio encompasses wind farms Merkkikallio, Puutikankangas and Rustari in the Ostrobothnia, North Ostrobothnia and South Ostrobothnia regions of Finland.
BlackRock Real Assets (Buyer), Green Horizon Renewables a.s. and other minority investors (Sellers), Mikana portfolio (Target)
Transaction
BlackRock Real Assets’ acquisition of the Mikana portfolio, which consists of an existing operational project of 20 MW and four wind development projects with a capacity of 200 MW, from Green Horizon Renewables a.s. and other minority investors
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to Green Horizon Renewables a.s. and other minority investors
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.
Oy Linde Gas Ab (Buyer), Neste Markkinointi Oy (Seller), Neste’s cylinder gas business and stake in Oy Innogas Ab (Targets)
Transaction
Oy Linde Gas Ab’s acquisition of Neste Markkinointi Oy’s cylinder gas business and Neste Markkinointi Oy's stake in Oy Innogas Ab, a provider of LPG cylinder filling, requalification and logistics services.
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.
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
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.
City of Espoo, Kumppanuuskoulut Oy, YIT Oyj, Meridiam Investments II
Transaction
The City of Espoo signed a service agreement with Kumppanuuskoulut Oy on the implementation of five schools and three daycare centres
Deal Value
Approx. EUR 300 million
Role
Counsel to City of Espoo
Team
Rabbe Sittnikow, Jussi Ekonen, Janna Pihanurmi, Janne Veneranta, Roosa Väre, Markus Bremer, Maria Landtman, Samuli Pirinen, Heikki Vesikansa, Harri Vehviläinen, Piia Ahonen, Joakim Lavér
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
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.
Counsel to a multinational company in a public procurement case concerning automated metro railway system – the value of the procurement totalling MEUR 180
Counsel to an international constructor in a public procurement dispute concerning the construction of a harbour, the value of the entire project exceeding EUR 260 million. In an important precedent, the Market Court sustained our client’s appeal, finding that the contracting entity was not allowed to preclude our client from the bidding processes.
Counsel to several regions in Sweden with advice on the way in which the regions should organise themselves due to the entry into force of the new Public Transport Act.
Counsel to other transport authorities in other regions with advice in connection with transport procurement of transport services and agreements for the acquisition of trams.
Counsel to the contracting entity against another governmental organization in a precedential damages litigation based on purported breach of public procurement rules in a competitive bidding for the construction of a motor highway, the value of which exceeded MEUR 50.
Counsel to a Finnish aviation company in a landmark case against the Finnish Civil Aviation Administration regarding compensation for damages caused by discrimination in public procurement proceedings. Our client won the case in the Court of Appeal, which ordered that substantial damages be paid to our client.
Counsel to a multinational company in a dispute concerning air transport services for Finnish State officials. Our client won the case in the Supreme Administrative Court, receiving the largest compensation payment imposed in Finland to date on the basis of infringement of public procurement rules.
Counsel to a Finnish construction company in a high-profile public procurement dispute concerning the design, construction and financing of an underground bus terminal, the value of which exceeded MEUR 100. The court decided the case in favour of our client, who was thus able to proceed with its largest-ever construction project.
Counsel to a multinational company in a public procurement case concerning unmanned metro rails – the value of the procurement totalling MEUR 150.
Counsel to the contracting entity in a landmark Finnish alliancing project in which the alliance model was deployed for the first time in Finland – the value of the procurement totalling MEUR 90.
Counsel to the Perm Region Government in a concession project on the construction of a bypass road and bridge (Perm Eastern Bypass). The concession project, amounting to EUR 500 million, started in 2012 and is still on-going.
Counsel to the Finnish Transport Agency in the service agreement signed between the Finnish Transport Agency and Tieyhtiö Vaalimaa Oy for E18 Hamina–Vaalimaa motorway.
Counsel to the City of Espoo in its PPP school project. Value of the project is expected to be in excess of EUR 100 million.
Counsel to a turn-key supplier of a nuclear power plant in its bids to and negotiations with Teollisuuden Voima (TVO) regarding its planned new Olkiluoto 4 nuclear power plant (on-going).
Counsel to SL in three different long-term (20 years) contracts with Stockholm Vatten AB/Scandinavian Biogas AB, Fortum AB and Käppalaförbundet regarding the supply of biogas to SL’s bus depots.
Counsel to a public sector contracting entity for the construction of a major waste to energy power plant.
Counsel to the contracting entity at the Supreme Administrative Court in a public procurement case concerning utilisation of waste as energy. This is one of the largest public procurement matters that have been the subject of legal proceedings in Finland – the value of the procurement totalling MEUR 282.
Counsel to a Finnish municipal waste management enterprise in a public procurement case concerning the construction of a Waste-to-Energy plant – the value of the procurement totalling MEUR 130.
'The firm is highly recommended by one client for its "in-depth knowledge of commercial and contractual practices as well as the legal framework in the field of energy." The same client further highlights the firm for being "highly solution-oriented and providing excellent, practical advice."'
'Another describes the practice as "an excellent team with industry knowledge."'
'One client is "exceptionally pleased with the services they have provided," praising the team's "in-depth knowledge of Finnish legislation" and ability to "keep an ear to the ground for the local variations."'
'Clients appreciate the team's "wide area" of specialisms and add: "In all significant areas for us they have been a very supportive and skilful resource."'
'Another interviewee praises the "impact of the lawyers on the project as well as their expertise in energy market issues."'
'Rabbe Sittnikow at Hannes Snellman Attorneys receives international recognition for his experience handling major infrastructure and energy deals, having advised on numerous electricity distribution network deals and nuclear power plant projects.'
‘Hannes Snellman is able to offer its Finnish clients a truly regional service. As a full service firm the team is also able to deliver a breadth of services across the full spectrum of energy and infrastructure projects.'
'The energy and infrastructure team at Hannes Snellman is led by partner Rabbe Sittnikow. The firm welcomed two new faces to its practice recently who have been able to settle into the team this year. Partner Tapio Teräkivi arrived from Castrén & Snellman in November 2013 while counsel Klaus Metsä-Simola was brought in during December of that year.