Jesper Nevalainen
Partner | Helsinki@hannessnellman.com
IT and technology licensing, ERP-projects, outsourcing, digital transformation, cloud computing, agile software development, fintech, data and data regulation, AI - whatever your technology law needs may be, we have the track record and capability to assist you. The expertise, experience, and insight of our Technology practice, combined with our way of working as a seamless cross-border and cross-practice team, means that we are well placed to advise on the most demanding technology law related assignments and to see beyond the law to provide practical and strategic advise that provides value to your business.
Hannes Snellman’s cross-border Technology practice is one of the leading practices in the Nordic market. Our Technology team has vast experience in all aspects of technology law matters, ranging from traditional IT and outsourcing transactions to cloud computing, the Internet of things (IoT), agile software development, fintech, data and data regulation, as well as robotic process automation and artificial intelligence (AI).
Our team advises both buyers and suppliers of technology and related services, most typically on business-critical projects. We have the privilege of working with some of the world’s most innovative companies and companies seen as pioneers in their field, which means that we are continuously exposed to new technologies and business models that are shaping industries. We also continuously follow and analyse the legal implications of the technologies and business models of tomorrow, so that we know what is coming well before it becomes mainstream and can help our clients efficiently navigate in the increasingly important and complex field of technology law.
As the world is continuously becoming more converged with industries one after another being affected by the advances of technology, digitalisation, and the data economy, advising clients from silos is not an option for us. Therefore, we work closely and seamlessly with our other practices to include the necessary industry and sector expertise into the assignments of our Technology practice.
We understand the global nature of today’s business and have established relationships with the leading technology law practices around the world. This means that we can and do serve our clients wherever their business and need for legal services may take them and are capable and used to managing global projects for our clients.
Our seasoned Technology Litigation team understands the complexity of technology-related disputes whether they are in general courts or in arbitration.
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 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.
Our Technology Litigation team frequently acts, for example in:
The rapidly evolving technology has transformed outsourcing from a mere cost-saving measure to a strategic catalyst for accessing market-leading know-how and cutting-edge innovations. Today’s effective outsourcing strategies can combine the benefits of the improved quality of IT and business processes with driven down costs and a more responsive business environment.
Acting for both corporate and public-sector clients as well as top service providers has helped us to understand the priorities of clients across a broad spectrum of technologies and business sectors. We have been guiding clients throughout the outsourcing life cycle, from identifying the right mix of internal and external IT services to contract negotiations and implementation of the outsourcing model. We also advise clients on the outsourcing of the full range of business processes, such as asset and cash management, finance and accounting, human resources and administration, as well as procurement and facilities and logistics management. The depth of our experience at all sourcing levels (including onshore, offshore, and nearshore) helps our clients turn potential options into viable and well-executed outsourcing partnerships.
In addition to outsourcing, we advise our clients in complex ICT transactions, such as ICT project deliveries, cloud computing contracting, and ongoing ICT service arrangements.
Among a wide variety of compliance areas that companies nowadays need to be aware of, data protection is regarded as a “new-comer”. This is not because there has not been any previous legislation on the topic, but because the strict new requirements set forth in the upcoming EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the ePrivacy Regulation, coupled with potentially massive fines for non-compliance, has meant that privacy has quickly become one of the hottest areas within the field of compliance.
To help our clients to steer through the changing waves, we offer a complete and tailor-made approach on data protection compliance, including management and implementation. Our approach is strongly influenced by our view that meeting the requirements of the GDPR (and other data privacy legislation) should be regarded as a business enabler and not solely as a compliance issue. We advise our clients in:
Hannes Snellman’s Technology practice advises clients in relation to the public procurement of technology and digital assets. Due to our exceptional combination of deep understanding in public procurement and technology within the same team, we are able to offer strategic advice in the most demanding matters. Our team advices clients before, during, and after tendering competitions. We provide assistance to contracting entities in the preparation of calls to tender, market surveys, negotiated procedures, as well as court proceedings and contractual negotiations. We provide assistance to bidders with regard to influencing in tendering competitions during market surveys, analysis of calls to tender, compliance with calls to tender, risk analysis, drafting of bids, review procedures in court proceedings, as well as contractual negotiations. In addition, our experts regularly offer training sessions to our clients.
Thoma Bravo, VisualCron
SMA Technologies, a provider of automation solutions for financial services, has acquired VisualCron, a Swedish automation, integration and task scheduling tool for Windows environments.
Value not public
Counsel to Thoma Bravo
PCP and Avia Pharma AB
PCP in its SEK 350 million term loan to Avia Pharma AB
SEK 350 million term loan
Counsel to PCP
Counsel to TouchPoint Medical Nordic AB in setting up a co-operation agreement with ApoEx AB for the distribution and licensing of TouchPoint Medical’s automated dispensing cabinets
Counsel to Enerim Oy in the negotiated public procurement process for a service-based IT solution for Customer, Market and Invoicing functionality initiated by Göteborg Energi
Schaeffler (bidder), H2 Green Steel (target)
Schaeffler, a leading global supplier to the automotive and industrial sectors and one of the world’s largest family companies, investment in the Swedish green impact company H2 Green Steel.
Deal Value
H2 Green Steel raises EUR 190m in series B round
Counsel to Schaeffler
Norgesdekk AS (buyers), Valla Dackverkstad (target)
Valla Dackverkstad 67% stake to be acquired by Norgesdekk
SEK 80 660 000
Acted as Swedish counsel to Norgesdekk AS
Applied Materials Inc. (buyer), Picosun Oy (target)
The acquisition of Picosun Oy, an innovator in atomic layer deposition (ALD) technology, primarily for specialty semiconductors.
Value not public
Finnish counsel to Applied Materials Inc.
Novedo, Nordsign AB, ProvideU, Elektronik Mekanik in Västerås
Counsel to Novedo in the acquisition of Nordsign AB, and its portfolio company ProvideU in the acquisition of Elektronik Mekanik in Västerås
Not public
Counsel to Novedo and ProvideU
Xindao, Vinga Sweden
Counsel to Xindao in Its Acquisition of Vinga Sweden
Not public
Counsel to Xindao
Gores Guggenheim, Inc., The Gores Group and Guggenheim Capital, LLC, and Polestar.
Gores Guggenheim, Inc. in its closing of business combination with Polestar
The transaction implies an equity value of approximately USD 20 billion for Polestar.
Legal advisor to Gores Guggenheim, Inc. together with Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP.
Sitowise (buyer), Bitcomp Oy (target)
Counsel to Sitowise in its acquisition of Bitcomp Oy
Value not public
Counsel to Sitowise
KLAR Partners, Oleter Group, Swoosh
Counsel to KLAR Partners backed Oleter Group in the merger between its underground infrastructure maintenance business (UIM) and Swoosh
Value not public
Counsel to KLAR Partners
Rebellion, Stockholm Betongkonsult AB
Counsel to Rebellion in the acquisition of Stockholm Betongkonsult AB
Value not public
Counsel to Rebellion
Kingdom of Sweden (Seller), Metria AB (Target), Sikri Holding AS (Buyer)
Counsel to the Kingdom of Sweden in the sale of Metria AB to Sikri Holding AS
Value not public
Counsel to the Kingdom of Sweden
Paulig Group (seller), Valio (buyer), Gold&Green brand, intellectual property and R&D function (target)
The divestment of Paulig’s Gold&Green brand, intellectual property and R&D function to Valio
Value not public
Counsel to Paulig Group
Oriola Corporation, Euroapotheca, Kronans Apotek and Apoteksgruppen
Counsel to Oriola Corporation in the Formation of a Joint Venture with Euroapotheca combining the Swedish retail pharmacy chains Kronans Apotek and Apoteksgruppen.
EUR 700 million
Counsel to Oriola Corporation
Savvy Gaming Group, ESL Gaming, FACEIT
Counsel to Savvy Gaming Group in its acquisition of ESL Gaming and FACEIT
SEK 15 billion
Counsel to Savvy Gaming Group
Mangold AB
Hannes Snellman acted as counsel to Mangold AB in its listing on the Nasdaq Stockholm Main Market.
Not public
Counsel to Mangold AB
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
Fazer Group and Trensums Food
Counsel to Fazer Group in its acquisition of Trensums Food
Not public
Counsel to Fazer Group
Tosibox Oy, Nexit Ventures and its partner 3TS Capital Partners
Counsel to Tosibox Oy, a provider of operational technology networking platforms for enterprises and organisations, in raising new equity funding from Nexit Ventures and its partner 3TS Capital Partners.
EUR 5 million
Counsel to Tosibox Oy
Wikström Family, Granitor, Mohammed Al Amoudi, Midroc Europe
Counsel to the Wikström Family when Midroc Becomes Granitor
Value not public
Counsel to the Wikström Family
Gores Guggenheim, Inc., Polestar
Counsel to Gores Guggenheim, Inc., a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) formed by the affiliates of The Gores Group and Guggenheim Capital, LLC, in its proposed business combination with the global electric performance car company Polestar.
Counsel to Gores Guggenheim, Inc.
Virala Acquisition Company Plc, Purmo Group Ltd
Virala Acquisition Company Plc's merger with Purmo Group Ltd.
EUR 685 million
Counsel to Virala Acquisition Company Plc
Abracon LLC (a portfolio company of The Riverside Company) as Buyer and the selling shareholders of ProAnt AB as sellers
Advisng The Riverside Company and its portfolio company Abracon LLC on the acquisition of Proant AB and Proant Asia Limited
Value not public
Advisor to Private Equity Sponsor Riverside and its portfolio company Abracon LLC
SEB Private Equity
SEB Private Equity in its investment in and partnership with Eatery
Value not public
Counsel to SEB Private Equity
IK Investment Partners
IK Investment Partners (“IK”) in its investment in Mecenat Holding AB
Value not public
Counsel to IK Investment Partners
Vitec Software Group AB (publ)
Nordman & Co
Value not public
Counsel to Vitec Software Group AB (publ)
Charles River Laboratories International, Inc., Cognate BioServices, Inc. Cobra Biologics
Swedish counsel to Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. in the acquisition of Cognate BioServices, Inc,. including its Swedish and British subsidiaries Cobra Biologics.
The purchase price amounted approximately USD 875 million.
Counsel to Charles River Laboratories International, Inc.
Vitec Software Group (publ), Travelize International AB
Vitec Software Group acquires the Swedish software company Travelize International AB
Value not public
Counsel to Vitec Software Group (publ)
Savaria Corporation, Handicare Group AB
Savaria Corporation in Its Public Offer for Handicare Group AB
The offer values Handicare at approximately SEK 2.9 billion
Counsel to Savaria Corporation
Sitowise Holding AB, TFIP
Sitowise in the Acquisition of TFIP
Value not public
Counsel to Intera Partners backed Sitowise Holding AB
Telia Finland (Seller) and AddSecure (Buyer)
Telia Finland’s divestment of Telia Alerta business to AddSecure
Value not public
Counsel to Seller/Telia Finland
TrønderEnergi AS, Scandinavian Biogas
The Norwegian energy company TrønderEnergi has become the largest shareholder in Scandinavian Biogas, a leading producer of biogas in the Nordics.
Value not public
Swedsih counsel to TrønderEnergi AS
SGS, SYNLAB’s Analytics & Services division
SGS to buy SYNLAB's Analytics & Services division
EUR 550 million
Swedish and Finnish Counsel to SGS
Sanoma Media Finland Oy (Seller), Schibsted (buyer), Oikotie Ltd (target)
The sale of Sanoma’s online classifieds business Oikotie to Schibsted
EUR 185 million
Counsel to Sanoma Group
Riikka Rannikko, Jesper Nevalainen, Mikko Huimala, Agda Vähä-Piikkö, Jenni Heurlin, Anton Pirinen
Siemens AB, Vizendo
Siemens has acquired Swedish service and software company Vizendo AB, a provider of virtual operator training for industrial companies.
Value not public
Counsel to Siemens AB
Fortum Recharge AS, Infracapital, Fortum
Infracapital in the acquisition of 63% of Fortum Recharge AS with subsidiaries.
Value not public
Swedish and Finnish counsel to Infracapital
Smartly.io Solutions Oy and its owners, Providence Equity Partners
Counsel to Smartly.io and its owners in the sale of a majority stake to Providence Equity Partners
EUR 200 million
Counsel to Smartly.io Solutions Oy and its owners
Tieto Corporation, EVRY ASA
The combination of Tieto and EVRY through a cross-border merger
Value not public
Counsel to EVRY ASA
Advised a Finnish listed construction company on co-operation agreement and data protection issues concerning a cloud-based smart building solution.
Advised a global pharmaceuticals company’s Finnish entity on various day-to-day matters, including contractual arrangements and regulatory advice.
Advised a global pharmaceuticals company on data protection and e-privacy issues in relation to the deployment of data loss prevention tools and other similar systems.
Counsel to clients on providing regular advice on privacy practices concerning employment, such as whistleblowing schemes and an employer’s rights to employees’ electronic communications.
Counsel to a number of clients (both customers and suppliers) on the data protection aspects of their outsourcing agreements.
Advised the Finnish Committee for UNICEF and the Finnish Red Cross on their GDPR preparation projects.
Advised a global vehicle manufacturer on data protection and privacy issues related to the use of on-board cameras in vehicles.
Advised a client on data protection issues in relation to imaging a public road network.
Counsel to various listed and non-listed companies in carrying out GDPR compliance projects and providing GDPR advice, including drafting of privacy policies, data protection impact assessments, data processing agreements, data retention policies, data flow mapping, etc.
Counsel to a world-leading ERP provider on a complex, multi-tier contractual arrangement concerning international data transfers.
Counsel to a leading private provider of optician and ophthalmological services in carrying out a full GDPR compliance project. The project included, among other things, a thorough review of the client’s current data processing practices and drafting of various policies, DPAs, and other relevant documentation.
Counsel to a multinational medical devices provider on contractual and data protection matters concerning its products and related cloud-based services.
Counsel to a company on the Market Court process concerning the procurement of IT equipment worth EUR 20 million.
Counsel to a client on the procurement of novel scientific equipment
Counsel to a state-owned company in providing regular advice on technology-related outsourcing.
Counsel to Microsoft in providing regular advice on public procurement.
Counsel to the Greek authorities on agile deliveries in public procurement.
Counsel to a significant IT service provider on a novel agile development project. The advice included strategic advice as well as contract drafting and negotiations.
Counsel to a client on public procurement matters relating to the social welfare and healthcare reform in Finland.
Counsel to a state-owned company on the procurement of a critical ICT system.
Counsel to Accenture on the public ICT procurement of a significant ICT system.
Counsel to a vendor-side client on various public IT procurement projects for the defence and security sector.
Counsel to a telecom and network equipment manufacturer in providing regular strategic advice on the public procurement of technology.
Counsel to an insurance company on a business acquisition.
Counsel to a telecom operator on the purchasing of a virtual operator and ICT service provider.
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 global industrial company on its full scale IT outsourcing arrangement with a service provider.
Counsel to Valmet Corporation on various IT separation and IP licensing matters in relation to Valmet’s acquisition of a process automation systems business from Metso Oyj.
Counsel to a Finnish industrial company on its reselling arrangements of cloud services in Japan.
Counsel to Ramirent Oyj on its outsourcing of IT workplace, ICT infrastructure, service desk, and service management to Advania Ab.
Counsel to Berner Oy, a Finland-based manufacturing and importing company on the contracting for the procurement of a new ERP system.
Counsel to Scandic Hotels Group on IT separation, IPR, and transitional matters in connection with its acquisition of Restel's hotel operations in Finland.
Counsel to a multinational energy company on its digitalisation process on various levels, e.g. in relation to the delivery of charging solutions and a related cloud-based service concerning electronic vehicles.
Counsel to an international supplier on frame agreement negotiations with a large Finnish financial services provider concerning the delivery of various new ICT systems, including a system for insurance management.
Counsel to a leading private healthcare provider on its corporate transactions from the perspectives of data protection, patient data regulatory, and ICT.
Counsel to a Finnish listed equipment rental company on the procurement of a warehouse management solution.
Counsel to a listed ICT company in providing regular advice on its commercial projects and service contracts, data protection matters, and corporate matters.
Counsel to two listed companies on complex license negotiations involving a multi-vendor setup.
Counsel to a world-leading provider and developer of ERP systems and services in providing regular advice on its software licensing transactions in the Nordic countries.
Counsel to a Finnish listed construction company on the procurement of construction and building information modelling (BIM) software.
Counsel to a global manufacturer of wearable consumer technology on product regulatory matters, such as WEEE regulations, packaging requirements, and products markings.
Counsel to a multinational financial sector company on a dispute regarding a breach of agreement.
Advised a Finnish listed company on a dispute regarding licensing and data.
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 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 network corporation in their establishment of a joint venture with a Finnish multinational corporation
Counsel to a multinational insurance company in their system delivery project and hosting services arrangement with a service provider.
Sitowise Group Oyj, Infracontrol AB
Sitowise Group Oyj’s acquisition of Infracontrol AB
Value not public
Counsel to Sitowise