Hannes Snellman's cross-border Intellectual Property practice is one of the leading practices in the Nordic market. Our business-oriented IP team has vast experience in all aspects of intellectual property covering copyright, patents and utility models, designs, trademarks and domain names, as well as trade secrets. We deliver efficient and pragmatic execution of assignments in matters ranging from trademark filings to the most demanding and complex IP-related agreements and disputes.

The importance of intellectual property is inevitably increasing. With our clients’ business in focus, we assist in transforming intellectual capital in the form of an idea into an intellectual property right in order to secure intellectual property assets. Having the privilege to co-operate with several leading firms in their fields, we have gained an extensive experience and understanding in several sectors, such as Life Sciences, food and beverage, fashion, retail, software, telecommunications, the automotive industry, industrial equipment and solutions, media, entertainment, and sports.

As intellectual property is often the most valuable asset, and in order to maximise the value and goodwill of intellectual property in the era of digitalisation, it is important to have a clear vision and strategy. Our IP Commercial team provides our clients with strategic IP advice on how to protect, manage, market, license, and commercialise their intellectual property, as well as how to monetise said key assets in transactions and at every stage of their life cycle. Our IP Litigation team frequently acts as an IP sounding board to assess the issue at hand and to create tactics and strategies on how to resolve the issue. Furthermore, in a digitalised world, our clients need global strategic assistance and advice. In order to provide our clients with international and seamless high-quality legal services, we have created excellent relationships with leading law firms throughout the globe to ensure that such services are available at once wherever needed.

Our clients' intellectual property is what matters to us. Our IP Litigation team understands the need to retain the freedom to operate and obtain the best possible outcome under the circumstances of each case. In order to achieve the business goals of our clients, our seasoned and business-oriented litigators suggest litigation and settlement strategies that may consist, for example, of obtaining a fast interim injunction or other relief, settlement negotiations to resolve the case out of court and before trial, or creative but thorough tactics for litigation or arbitration.

In each case, we form a dedicated team of experts to correspond to the type and extent of the case and work closely with our Technology, Dispute Resolution, and Competition & Procurement practices. We represent our clients in Finnish and Swedish authorities and courts as well as in the European Union Intellectual Property Office and the Court of Justice of the European Union. With regard to arbitration, we represent our clients in international arbitration institutes, such as the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center, in addition to Finnish and Swedish arbitration institutes.

We are prepared for the upcoming Unified Patent Court, and our firm is one of the few Nordic firms that are ready to cover both the Finnish local division and the regional division set up by Sweden and the Baltic Countries. We intensively follow the developments of the new unitary patent system and are ready to advise our clients in their preparation for the new regime.

Our IP Litigation team frequently acts, for example in:

• Patent litigation in many different fields, such as different technologies and Life Sciences
• Trade secret litigation
• Trademark and domain name litigation also covering anti-counterfeiting and unfair business practices
• Copyright and database disputes often relating to software, digital rights, media, or entertainment
• Complex contractual issues relating to intellectual property
• We understand the importance and value of intellectual property, which is inevitably increasing. More than ever, intellectual property is worth fighting for.

We advise our clients in all kinds of matters relating to life sciences, including groundbreaking and complex regulatory assignments that require an innovative approach and a broad knowledge of the Life Sciences sector. Our cross-border team regularly assists clients in contractual arrangements that are on the forefront of the current practice in the Nordic Countries and that require close co-operation with the public procurement experts of our Competition and Procurement practice.

Both national and international clients routinely turn to us for advice in relation to intellectual property enforcement actions, compliance issues, as well as disputes regarding ethical codes of conduct, both within the pharmaceutical sector and in relation to medical devices and technologies.

Our team advises on several different types of contractual matters, such as R&D, licensing, clinical trials, and different kinds of co-operation models. Our IP Litigation team assists and represents our life sciences clients in disputes and our Marketing, Media, and Online Business team advises clients on marketing, regulatory, and product liability issues.

Our specialists have a hard time understanding why all lawyers are not into media and marketing law – it is so much fun! Advising on legal issues relating to marketing campaigns on- and offline, sales promotions and consumer competitions, as well as on various matters relating to social media, online and traditional media, and the related contractual and regulatory issues, is a part of our everyday business. We also handle consumer complaints and provide regulatory advice relating to marketing and consumer law. We assist our clients in proceedings with the local authorities and, if needed, participate in proceedings before the local courts.

We analyse the situation and, where necessary, take measures against unfair business practices by our clients' competitors and assist our clients in questions relating to packaging and labelling requirements, customer data, environmental and health claims, as well as product liability and recalls.

Parties:

Equip Capital, Stenbolaget Sverige AB

Transaction:

Equip Capital’s investment in Stenbolaget

Deal value:

Value not public

Role:

Counsel to Equip Capital

Parties:

Riverside Company, Monias Torkduk AB

Transaction:

Vita Verita acquired by Riverside Company

Deal value:

Value not public

Role:

Counsel to Riverside Company

Parties: 

IK Small Cap III Fund, Responda Group

Transaction:

IK Small Cap III Fund’s investment in Responda Group

Deal Value:

Value not public

Role:

Counsel to IK Partners

Parties:

Sitowise (buyer), Bitcomp Oy (target)

Transaction:

Counsel to Sitowise in its acquisition of Bitcomp Oy

Deal Value:

Value not public

Role:

Counsel to Sitowise

Parties

MEKO (buyer), Koivunen (target)

Transaction

Counsel to MEKO in its acquisition of Koivunen, the provider of automotive spare parts and related services.

Deal Value

EUR 122 Million

Role

Counsel to MEKO

Parties:

Ahlström Capital BV and Nidoco AB (buyers), Ahlstrom-Munksjö (seller), Decor Solutions business area (target)

Transaction:

The buying consortium comprising Ahlström Capital BV and Nidoco AB, in the investment in the majority share of Ahlstrom-Munksjö’s Decor Solutions business area.

Deal Value:

Value not public

Role:

Counsel to the buying consortium (Ahlström Capital BV and Nidoco AB)

Parties 

Kingdom of Sweden (Seller), Metria AB (Target), Sikri Holding AS (Buyer)

Transaction 

Counsel to the Kingdom of Sweden in the sale of Metria AB to Sikri Holding AS

Deal Value 

Value not public

Role

Counsel to the Kingdom of Sweden

Parties

Paulig Group (seller), Valio (buyer), Gold&Green brand, intellectual property and R&D function (target)

Transaction

The divestment of Paulig’s Gold&Green brand, intellectual property and R&D function to Valio

Deal Value

Value not public

Role

Counsel to Paulig Group

Parties
Lassila & Tikanoja plc (JV shareholder), Neova Oy (JV shareholder), L&T Biowatti Oy (joint venture company)

Transaction
Counsel to Lassila & Tikanoja plc, a service company that is putting the circular economy into practice, in creating a joint venture with Neova Oy consolidating the parties’ energy wood businesses in Finland and Estonia. The joint venture’s turnover is approximately EUR 100 million and it employs approximately 100 employees.

Deal Value
Not disclosed

Role
Legal counsel to L&T plc

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 

Role

Counsel to Enersense International

Parties 

Virala Acquisition Company Plc, Purmo Group Ltd

Transaction 

Virala Acquisition Company Plc's merger with Purmo Group Ltd.

Deal Value 

EUR 685 million

Role

Counsel to Virala Acquisition Company Plc

Parties

PPG Industries, Inc. (Bidder), Tikkurila Oyj (Target)

Transaction

Recommended public cash tender offer for all of the shares in Tikkurila by PPG Industries, Inc.

Deal Value

EUR 1.5 billion

Role

Counsel to Tikkurila Oyj

Parties

Telia Finland (Seller) and AddSecure (Buyer)

Transaction

Telia Finland’s divestment of Telia Alerta business to AddSecure

Deal Value

Value not public

Role

Counsel to Seller/Telia Finland

Parties 

TrønderEnergi AS, Scandinavian Biogas

Transaction

The Norwegian energy company TrønderEnergi has become the largest shareholder in Scandinavian Biogas, a leading producer of biogas in the Nordics.

Deal value 

Value not public 

Role

Swedsih counsel to TrønderEnergi AS

Parties 

SGS, SYNLAB’s Analytics & Services division

Transaction 

SGS to buy SYNLAB's Analytics & Services division

Deal value 

EUR 550 million 

Role 

Swedish and Finnish Counsel to SGS

Parties

Sanoma Media Finland Oy (Seller), Schibsted (buyer), Oikotie Ltd (target)

Transaction

The sale of Sanoma’s online classifieds business Oikotie to Schibsted

Deal value

EUR 185 million

Role

Counsel to Sanoma Group

Core team

Riikka Rannikko, Jesper Nevalainen, Mikko Huimala, Agda Vähä-Piikkö, Jenni Heurlin, Anton Pirinen

Parties

Smartly.io Solutions Oy and its owners, Providence Equity Partners

Transaction

Counsel to Smartly.io and its owners in the sale of a majority stake to Providence Equity Partners

Deal Value

EUR 200 million

Role

Counsel to Smartly.io Solutions Oy and its owners

Parties

Nordic Packaging and Container Holdings (Seller), Mondi Group (Buyer), Powerflute Group Holdings Oy (Target)

Transaction

Nordic Packaging and Container Holdings' sale of Powerflute Group Holdings Oy to a division of Mondi Group

Deal Value

Enterprise value of EUR 365 million

Role

Counsel to Nordic Packaging and Container Holdings (NPAC Holdings)

Parties

Oriola Oyj and Kesko Oyj

Transaction

A 50/50 percent joint venture to establish a chain of health, beauty and wellbeing stores across Finland, with the plan to expand the business to include pharmaceuticals if the legislation is amended

Deal Value

Value not public

Role

Counsel to Oriola

Parties

Hartwall Capital Oy Ab (Buyer), SUEZ Suomi Oy (Target)

Transaction

Hartwall Capital Oy Ab's acquisition of SUEZ Suomi Oy, comprising the Finnish operations of SUEZ Group

Deal Value

Value not public

Role

Counsel to Hartwall Capital Oy Ab

Parties

Biotie Therapies Corp.

Transaction

Public offering and listing of Biotie Therapies Corp.’s shares on the NASDAQ Global Select Market New York

Deal Value

Approx. EUR 83 million

Role

Counsel to Biotie Therapies Corp.

Parties

Mondi Group (Buyer), Walki Group (Seller)

Transaction

Mondi Group's acquisition of Walki Group's extrusion coating plants located in Pietarsaari, Finland and Wroclaw, Poland

Deal Value

EUR 60 million

Role

Counsel to Mondi AG

Counsel to Sentica’s portfolio company Trust Kapital, a company specializing in receivables lifecycle management and financing, in its acquisition of Enfo Zender, Enfo Oyj’s information logistics subsidiary.

Counsel to a Finnish industrial company on its multinational ERP project including several plants in Finland and roll outs in several other countries.

Counsel to a Finnish company on a dispute relating to the termination of a project agreement against an IT service provider. The dispute was settled on terms favourable to the client. 

Counsel to a multinational IT company on a dispute relating to the supply of an IT system. A highly favourable outcome was obtained for the client, as the adverse party accepted liability exceeding the limitation of its liability under the contract. 

Counsel to a Finnish company on a dispute regarding licence fees in connection with the outsourcing of the company’s IT department. The dispute was settled on terms favourable to the client.

Counsel to Recipharm in the divestment of the rights to its potassium iodide product ThyroSafe, except for the US territory, to SERB SA.

Counsel to Finnish and foreign computer game companies in various disputes relating to an international licensing agreement.

Counsel to a well-known Finnish movie director in a widely published dispute regarding intellectual property rights to a motion picture.

Counsel to a Finnish sports federation in a high-value dispute against a foreign party over a broadcasting agreement.

Counsel to a leading Finnish sports stadium company in a dispute concerning the services at the stadium.

Counsel to a foreign top level ice hockey club in an international debt collection case relating to player agreements.

Counsel to a leading Finnish skiing equipment manufacturer and a sponsor in a dispute against another sponsor concerning athletes’ image rights.

Counsel to a Finnish top-ranking basketball club in a dispute regarding termination of a foreign player’s employment agreement.

Counsel to a major Nordic fitness centre chain in a dispute regarding personal injury.

Counsel to a Finnish professional football club in cases concerning a stadium project, league license and youth academy.

Counsel to a Finnish sports federation in a dispute concerning an agreement on World Championships.

Counsel to a foreign Olympic gold medallist and World Cup winner in a dispute regarding the termination of a sponsorship agreement.

Counsel to a Finnish biotech start-up in drafting an agreement on research and development collaboration on research and development collaboration with a major Finnish university.

Counsel to a global pharmaceutical company in drafting and negotiating a clinical trial agreement, including advice concerning informed concent documents and collecting and storage of personal data as well as transfer of patient-related personal data outside the EU/EEA area. 

Counsel to a subsidiary of an international pharmaceutical company in a dispute concerning marketing of prescription medicines. 

Counsel to a leading global biotechnology company manufacturing and supplying biologically derived medications in a public procurement case against a hospital district. A positive outcome was reached without court proceedings and within the regulations governing public procurement. 

Counsel to a global pharmaceutical company in a dispute at the Helsinki Administrative Court concerning several marketing authorisations issued by the Finnish National Agency for Medicines to a competitor.

Counsel to one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies in contesting the non-reimbursement decision of the Finnish Pharmaceutical Pricing Board pertaining to a key product of the company. After the appeal was lodged in the Finnish Supreme Administrative Court, the Board granted reimbursement status on the basis of a new reimbursement application submitted by the company. 

Counsel to a multinational pharmaceutical company in its demerger to two seperate entities

Counsel to Intellectual Ventures, a leading invention capital company with one of the world’s largest and fastest growing invention portfolios, in creating Benemilk Oy, an R&D and IP joint venture with Raisio plc, a Finnish plant-based nutrition corporation, around Raisio’s cattle feed supplement invention.

Counsel to Novartis Finland Oy in a patent dispute before the Market Court.

Counsel to a Finnish company in a dispute over the IP rights to a software. We succeeded in obtaining an injunction ordering the counterparty under penalty of a fine to refrain from making claims of ownership to third parties either directly or indirectly.

Counsel to a leading multinational software company against another major corporation operating in the same branch of industry in a major trademark dispute pending simultaneously before venues in various countries. We secured our client’s position by winning the injunction proceedings, after which the dispute was settled. 

Counsel to a Finnish financial institution in a trademark dispute regarding colour. The adverse party’s claim regarding interim injunction was rejected and the case was settled on terms favorable to our client.

Counsel to leading playground manufacturer in an alleged trademark infringement and unfair business practices dispute. The case was successfully settled out of court. 

Counsel to a leading Finnish broadcasting and media company against another one in a dispute concerning suspected infringement of copyrights to photographs.

Counsel to Marimekko Corporation in a trademark and copyright litigation regarding counterfeits before the District Court of Ylivieska-Raahe. The seller of counterfeits was sentenced to fines and pay damages to Marimekko.

Counsel to Valmet Corporation in a patent dispute. The case was successfully settled out of court.

Counsel to a Finnish public company in arbitration regarding a complex contractual software application licensing dispute. The arbitral award was rendered on terms favorable to our client. 

Counsel to a Finnish public procurement entity in their procurement of ICT systems and software from several service providers accompanied by related support and maintenance agreements. 

Counsel to a multinational corporation in their purchase of an ICT business from a Finnish multinational corporation. 

Counsel to a multinational IT company in a dispute relating to the supply of an IT system. A highly favourable outcome was obtained for the client as the adverse party accepted liability exceeding the limitation of its liability under the contract. 

Counsel to a multinational network corporation in their establishment of a joint venture with a Finnish multinational corporation 

Counsel to a Finnish industrial company in their multi-national ERP project including several plants in Finland and roll outs in several other countries. 

Counsel to a Finnish financial institution in their major outsourcing arrangement of certain electric payment processes to a foreign service provider. 

Counsel to an industrial company in their full scale IT outsourcing arrangement with a service provider. 

Counsel to a multinational insurance company in their system delivery project and hosting services arrangement with a service provider. 

Counsel to Bridgepoint in the acquisition of cinema operator Nordic Cinema from Ratos and Bonnier.

Counsel to Uponor in establishing an Intelligent Water Sensing Technology JV with Belkin International in the U.S. and Europe.

Counsel to a Finnish leading equipment manufacturer and service provider in a project to update their contract portfolio regarding cloud services and software applications.

Counsel to several companies concerning their becoming marketing campaigns and promotions, including sweepstakes, competitions and lotteries. These preliminary examinations have helped our customers to avoid interference by the Finnish consumer authorities.

Counsel to software and hardware manufacturers in several cases in the Consumer Dispute Board and the Consumer Office. The authorities have approved our replies and clarifications and the consumer complaints have been dismissed.

Counsel to a Finnish company in a damages litigation regarding the application of the Unfair Business Practices Act in a case where the defendant – a major retail chain – had copied a retail trade system for its own use. The dispute was successfully settled out of court.

Counsel to a Finnish telecommunications company in several Market Court proceedings concerning comparative advertising by a competitor which our client considered contrary to fair business practices. The Market Court approved our applications, finding the measures  the competitor from continuing them.

Counsel to a Finnish company in Market Court proceedings initiated by a competitor, who accused our client of untrue allegations and unfair business practices. The Market Court ruled in favour of our client, finding the competitor’s allegations unsubstantiated.

Counsel to a Finnish bank in Market Court proceedings concerning certain marketing measures taken by a competitor which our client considered contrary to fair business practices. The Market Court approved our application, finding the measures  the competitor from continuing them.

Counsel to Microsoft Corporation in a domain name dispute before the Market Court regarding domain name onedrive.fi. The case was settled on terms favorable to our client and the disputed domain name was transferred to our client.

Counsel to a Finnish public company in a domain name dispute before the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center. The case was settled on terms favorable to our client and the disputed domain name was transferred to our client.

Counsel to a Finnish public company in an unfair business practices dispute before the Market Court. The adverse party’s claim regarding interim injunction was rejected and the case was settled on terms favorable to our client.

Counsel to a director of a motion picture in an application to prohibit the distribution of the movie which violated the director’s IP rights. The case was settled soon after the application was submitted. 

• "The lawyers of Hannes Snellman have speedy response times, and the comprehensive content of their responses is second to none."
• "They have very good industry knowledge and excellent problem-solving capabilities."
• "The team of Hannes Snellman is very proactive, available and responsive to our needs.
• "Hannes Snellman responds quickly to our questions, and they have provided solutions to our very demanding questions."

• "The lawyers are very experienced and business-minded, which shows in the quality of their advice."
• "The lawyers are quick and communication with the client is great."
• "The lawyers have shown real interest to understand our business, our goals and the logics of our business areas."

• "Wide and deep experience with a proven concept – what more can you say?"
  "I have had the pleasure of working with Sarita Schröder, who is very talented and has a keen awareness for the business realities underpinning the legal considerations. It results in relevant, on-time and actionable advice, whether the issue is a regulatory or a contentious one. When push comes to shove, you will want Sarita in your corner."

• 'Panu Siitonen is experienced handling a range of intellectual property mandates, including patent and trade mark infringements, regulatory issues and marketing law matters. A client praises him as "very collaborative and very responsive."'

• ‘Panu Siitonen is knowledgeable and practical in his advice. He is a great support in all IP matters ranging from patent strategies to business integrity matters.’
• ‘They are very professional and knowledgeable and customer-oriented. Very good response times and ability to give brief and to-the-point advice. Particularly strong in patent and trade secret issues.’
• ‘Panu Siitonen, partner and IPR team leader. Very good presentation and communication skills – helps me as a non-IPR expert to understand and grasp complex IPR issues. Keeps me as a client up to speed and responds within minutes.’

• 'According to clients, Panu Siitonen "handles cases skilfully." He has experience in a variety of intellectual property mandates, including patent and trade mark infringements, regulatory issues and marketing law matters.'

• “If you are ever in a pinch, Hannes Snellman has you covered. The cooperation is smooth, effective and transparent, with each party working together to achieve a mutual goal. The end result is always a stellar deal at the end of a tricky negotiation period.” A premier transactions outfit in the Nordics, the ensemble also puts up a tough fight in litigation. At the helm of the IP division is Panu Siitonen, who leads the charge in precedent-setting cases. “A tremendous lawyer with the mindset of a businessman, his advice is extremely practical and always accurate. Panu is always on the ball and his proactive style puts clients at ease in the most testing of times.”

• 'Patent litigation is second to none.'

• 'An "efficient and business-minded team."'

• 'Clients recommend the firm for multi-jurisdictional matters and describe the service as "high quality."'

• 'Already an excellent choice on the Finnish market for IP-intensive transactional matters, “fabulous M&A house” Hannes Snellman makes the leap onto the litigation table this year based on its performance in high-profile battles for a market-leading telecoms names. “In possession of a sharp and flexible mind”, Panu Siitonen is a seasoned negotiator who also channels his commercial aptitude toward ironing out the rough patches in intricate licensing deals. Devotees hail him as “an accessible attorney, who always picks up the phone when we call. He is capable of presenting a case to the court in a convincing and pedagogic manner; he refrains from exaggeration, ensuring that his elegant arguments are based on a sound understanding of underlying legal concepts”'.

• 'The team is ‘excellent, responsive and very accommodating’'.

• 'Clients note that the lawyers “have a good understanding of the area,” adding that its “cross-border capabilities are well organised.”
• ‘Interviewees also say the team is “very good and skilful” and that there is “fast and open co-operation” within the department.'

• 'An interviewee says: "I love working with them because they always have very practical advice. I was impressed with the team at both senior and junior levels."'
• 'One source enthuses that the team "always has very practical advice and has a tendency to come up with very good approaches."'

• '"I was very satisfied with the whole service; the advice given and its quality, and the agreed schedules were met. I also appreciated the level of industry knowledge.", "The way the lawyers communicate is business-minded, with no legal jargon - they are very easy to work with."'

• 'Hannes Snellman is praised for its in-depth industry knowledge and quality of advice.'

• 'The team is known for particular strength on technology matters, advising financial institutions on outsourcing. "The lawyers have a business mindset and a deep knowledge of this area." "The team is practical, pragmatic and willing to learn."'

• ‘Hannes Snellman is praised for its ability to ‘achieve miracles in tight schedules.’

• ‘IP litigation head Panu Siitonen covers trade mark, copyright and patent disputes, with particular expertise in advising sports clients. Clients agree he is a 'very, very talented lawyer. He is hard-working and energetic.’’