About
Chairman: Carl-Henrik Wallin
Managing Partner: Ilkka Perheentupa
Number of partners: 23
Number of lawyers: 70
Languages: English, Finnish, French, German, Swedish
Firm Overview:
Avance is a business law firm managed by a team of experienced attorneys that share an enthusiasm for providing legal services of the highest quality. The firm handles some of the most demanding transactions, large projects and disputes involving its market, with a focus on matters that call for the skills and sophistication of the Avance team. The firm’s high partner-associate ratio reflects the core strategy of providing a senior-oriented service that ensures concrete value-add to clients and distinguishes the firm from its key competition. Avance combines high-end advisory work with a unique breadth of international experience, focusing on regulated industries that are relevant for Finland, such as energy and infrastructure, financial services, healthcare, life sciences, media and telecommunications, and real estate and construction. Evidencing the success of its strategy, the firm can showcase a broad selection of transactional advisory in key industrial arrangements in Finland. The work has in most cases also included advice on complex regulatory, competition law and financing issues. Please visit www.avance.com for further details.
Main Areas of Practice:
Capital Markets and Financial Regulatory:
Our capital markets team advises both bidders and target companies in public takeover situations, including governance, board advisory matters, and defense strategies. We act for public companies, issuers, investors, investment banks, and other market participants in connection with various capital market transactions, such as private placements, bond offerings, rights issues, IPOs and other public offerings of equity securities and buy-back programs. Our financial regulatory team advises clients in corporate governance, disclosure, and insider matters and provides regulatory advice to securities and financial institutions, as well as investment funds in their financial regulatory and compliance matters.
Main contacts: Rasmus Sundström, Partner, [email protected], Robin Nordblad, Partner, [email protected]; Elisa Heinonen, Partner, [email protected]; Ulf-Henrik Kull, Senior Partner, [email protected]; Ilkka Perheentupa, Managing Partner, [email protected]
Competition and State Aid:
We advise clients on matters relating to competition law, state aid and market regulation. As part of this regulatory advisory practice, our attorneys also manage merger control filings in connection with our transactional practice. Members of our team have broad experience in effectively managing diverse regulatory proceedings and matters at the EU and domestic levels and in interacting with the various EU and domestic institutions.
Main contacts: Katja Jaakkola, Partner, [email protected]; Asko Lindqvist, Partner, [email protected]
Compliance and Investigations:
Our team assists clients with designing, developing and implementing compliance policies and programs as well as with audits and investigations related to compliance practices. Our compliance team provides the first line of defense in various corporate crisis management situations and internal or external investigations.
Main contacts: Ulla Vuokila, Partner, [email protected]; Minna Katajoki, Partner, [email protected]; Elisa Heinonen, Partner, [email protected]; Salla Suominen, Partner, [email protected]; Asko Lindqvist, Partner, [email protected]
Data Protection and Cybersecurity:
We advise clients on a broad range of matters related to data protection and privacy. We also advise clients on how to prepare and respond to cybersecurity incidents. We assist clients e.g., with internal and criminal investigations relating to cyber attacks and with notifications to and proceedings with relevant authorities, data subjects and business partners.
Main contacts: Salla Suominen, Partner, [email protected]; Minna Katajoki, Partner, [email protected]; Sonja Heiskala, Senior Associate, [email protected]
Dispute Resolution:
We offer domestic and international clients across various industry sectors a full spectrum of conflict avoidance and dispute management services. We assist clients with corporate, commercial and regulatory disputes, in negotiations, litigation, arbitration, administrative proceedings and mediation. We also act as arbitrators in institutional and ad hoc arbitrations and squeeze-outs, and as mediators. Further, we advise clients in compliance, investigations and corporate crime cases, and with insolvency and restructuring related matters. We work closely with our colleagues from across the firm to resolve disputes in specialist areas, such as M&A, construction, real estate, data privacy, cybersecurity, IP, and tax.
Main contacts: Ulla Vuokila, Partner, [email protected]; Salla Suominen, Partner, [email protected]; Minna Katajoki, Partner, [email protected]
Employment and Incentives:
Avance’s team provides strategic advisory across various employment issues. Our practice covers both contentious and non-contentious employment matters including corporate restructurings and business transfers, cooperation procedures, collective bargaining agreements, service and executive employment contract issues, termination of employment, as well questions related to equity incentive programs, management compensation and pension issues. We advise clients in a wide variety of employment-related disputes and criminal matters, ranging from dispute avoidance and conflict management to litigation and arbitration. Our services also include supporting clients with whistleblowing matters, internal investigations and workplace-related non-compliance, including complex questions related to occupational health and safety matters. In addition, we advise clients on employment privacy matters and employment related intellectual property matters, including employee invention and trade secret disputes, as well as strategic management of intellectual property and trade secrets in the employment context.
Main contacts: Mari Mohsen, Partner, [email protected]; Erkki-Antti Sadinmaa, Partner, [email protected]
Environment:
We help clients assess the current and developing environmental issues that impact their operations across several industry sectors, including Energy, Oil & Gas, Chemicals and Food. We work with clients on environmental, health, and safety matters in a broad array of settings and regularly coordinate our efforts with technical experts.
Main contacts: Christoffer Charpentier, Partner, [email protected]; Sampsa Suominen, Partner, [email protected]
Finance:
Our team advises clients in banking and finance transactions, including syndicated and bilateral loans, acquisition, real estate, structured and project financing arrangements, as well as securitizations and restructurings. We act on behalf of lenders and borrowers at the senior, mezzanine, and subordinated levels. Our team also provides counsel relating to banking and financial regulatory matters.
Main contacts: Sari Wallgren, Partner, [email protected]; Selinda Näse, Partner, [email protected]; Tytti Laajanen, Partner, [email protected]
Governance:
Our team advises boards of directors and senior management on high-level corporate governance matters, including securities market matters, and legal and strategic issues that are of critical importance to the interests of the company and its shareholders. We also handle shareholders’ meetings of publicly and privately held companies, and members of our team regularly chair such meetings.
Main contacts: Carl-Henrik Wallin, Partner, Chairman, [email protected]; Ulf-Henrik Kull, Senior Partner, [email protected]; Rasmus Sundström, Partner, [email protected]
Intellectual Property:
We advise clients on a broad range of intellectual property matters, including the development, protection, licensing, acquisition, and assignment of intellectual property rights and technologies as well as related dispute resolution. Members of our team also provide counselling on trade secret and data law, regulatory matters related to information and communications technology, e-commerce, and consumer and advertising law.In addition, we advise clients on employment related intellectual property matters, including employee invention and trade secret disputes, as well as strategic management of intellectual property and trade secrets in the employment context.
Main contact: Sonja Heiskala, Senior Associate, [email protected]
Mergers and Acquisitions:
Transactions are at the core of what we do. Our team advises clients in their most demanding mergers and acquisitions, joint venture structures, and related arrangements. We believe in the value of bringing the right team and senior attention to each project and understand the importance of effective project management. Our firm has the capability and resources to execute high-end transaction projects from commencement to completion, including strategic planning, corporate structuring, due diligence, negotiation and documentation. We leverage the firm’s shared expertise to achieve the results that our clients are after.
Main contacts: Erkki-Antti Sadinmaa, Partner, [email protected]; Ilkka Perheentupa, Managing Partner, [email protected]; Ulf-Henrik Kull, Senior Partner, [email protected]; Mathias Lindqvist, Partner, [email protected]
Private Equity:
Our team has first-hand experience in industry practices and fund structures. We bring the full range of our expertise, including banking and leveraged finance, taxation, management incentive arrangements and management compensation to our sponsor clients.
Main contacts: Ulf-Henrik Kull, Senior Partner, [email protected]; Ilkka Perheentupa, Managing Partner, [email protected]; Erkki-Antti Sadinmaa, Partner, [email protected], Robin Nordblad, Partner, [email protected]
Venture Capital and Growth Equity:
Our team has in-depth experience advising VC-backed Nordic companies from a broad range of industries, as well as leading global venture capital, growth equity investors and strategic corporate venture investors. We provide tailored, practical, solutions-oriented counsel in all matters throughout the venture capital investment lifecycle, including advisory on equity and debt financing, transactional assignments, governance, intellectual property, data privacy, corporate and securities law, commercial agreements and strategic alliances.
Main contacts: Ilkka Perheentupa, Managing Partner, [email protected]; Anders Floman, Partner, [email protected]
Real Estate:
Our team represents domestic and international clients in connection with real estate transactions and projects, including purchase and sale of both individual properties and real estate portfolios, real estate investments and development projects. We have the resources and capability to coordinate projects from commencement to completion, covering, as applicable, structuring, due diligence, corporate and contractual matters, negotiation and documentation, financing and registration, and completion and post-completion matters. Members of our team have advised real estate companies, funds and other financial owners, property developers, construction companies, and state and municipal actors in a broad range of the largest real estate transactions and projects.
Main contacts: Henrikki Tahkokallio, Partner, [email protected]; Christoffer Charpentier, Partner, [email protected]; Mathias Lindqvist, Partner, [email protected]; Björn Söderblom, Partner, [email protected]
Restructuring and Insolvency:
We provide practical assistance in matters related to economic distress. Our team regularly advises debtor companies, their boards of directors, shareholders or creditors in out-of-court refinancing or voluntary restructuring negotiations and pre-pack discussions, but also in in-court insolvency proceedings. We act as court appointed administrator in corporate restructuring proceedings. In addition, we assist clients in insolvency related disputes and other court proceedings, such as claw-back claims and board liability matters.
Main contact: Salla Suominen, Partner, [email protected]
Tax and Structuring:
We provide a broad range of tax advisory services with focus on tax litigations, transaction and financing structuring services, due diligence, financial services tax and tax compliance and audit assistance. Our tax services complement our ability to execute high-end transactions, equity and debt structures, and litigations processes.
Main contacts: Sebastian Kellas, Partner, [email protected]; Antti Leppänen, Senior Advisor, [email protected]
Ranked Offices
Provided by Avance Attorneys
- HelsinkiMannerheimintie 20 A, 7/F, Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland, 00100
- Web: www.avance.com
- Tel: +358 20 155 5140
- Fax: +358 20 155 5141
- View ranked office
Avance Attorneys rankings
Articles, highlights and press releases
162 items provided by Avance Attorneys
Humana divests elderly care units
Avance advises Humana (listed on Nasdaq Stockholm) in the divestment of 21 elderly care units in Finland to Mehiläinen.
Mehiläinen to acquire Docrates
Avance advises Mehiläinen in the acquisition of Docrates, a comprehensive cancer diagnostics and treatment provider serving patients from up to 50 different countries each year.
Combination of the share classes of Keskisuomalainen
Avance advises Keskisuomalainen Oyj in connection with the combination of the company's two share classes and related directed share issuance to the holders of former class K shares in the company.
eQ Commercial Properties Fund sells a retail park in Finland
Avance advises eQ Commercial Properties Fund in the sale of a retail park in Espoo to an entity established by Swiss Life, one of the leading real estate managers and facilitators in the Nordics.
A consortium formed by Apollo and Rettig announces a public tender offer for all shares in Purmo
Avance advises Rettig Oy Ab and the consortium formed by certain affiliated funds of Apollo Global Management and Rettig in relation to the voluntary recommended public cash tender offer for all the shares in Purmo Group Plc announced by the consortium’s special purpose vehicle.
HappySignals receives growth investment led by Mandatum Asset Management
Avance advises HappySignals, a leading provider of IT Experience Management solutions, in its EUR 12 million funding round led by Mandatum Asset Management and joined by existing investors Nauta and Vendep Capital.
Sirius acquires residential portfolio for EUR 45 million
Avance advises Sirius Capital Partners and its newly established affiliate in the acquisition of a portfolio of 4 residential buildings from eQ's residential fund, Oivat Kaupunkikodit Ky.
Cobbleyard and sponsors divest warehouse property in Vantaa
Avance advises Cobbleyard Real Estate and its sponsors in the divestment of a warehouse property in Vantaa. The 6,400 sqm last-mile warehouse is single let with a long-term lease.
Kurio acquired by SAMY Alliance
Avance advises the owners of Kurio, a social-first creative agency, in the sale of Kurio to SAMY Alliance, an integrated, social-first technology and data-enabled digital marketing company. Kurio is ranked the 8th most creative agency in the world in the Global Creative Index 2023 by PRovoke Media
SARC Architects join forces with SIGGE Architects
Avance advises SARC Architects when it joins forces with SIGGE Architects. SARC and SIGGE are Finland’s leading architecture firms whose works have received several architecture awards, both domestic and international.
Avance advises AVS-Yhtiöt Oy and its owners in the sale of AVS-Power Oy to Beijer Oy, a subsidiary of Beijer Alma AB.
Barings acquires prime logistics scheme in Finland
Avance advises Barings Real Estate in the acquisition of a fully let, prime logistics scheme located adjacent to the Helsinki Airport in Finland.
Harry Schaumans Stiftelse (HSS) agrees to sell HSS Media Ab to Bonnier News
Avance advises Harry Schaumans Stiftelse (HSS) in the sale of HSS Media Ab to Bonnier News. HSS Media’s newspapers Vasabladet, Österbottens Tidning och Syd-Österbotten, as well as the local radio station Radio Vaasa and marketing agency Seger Marketing, will be part of the Dagens Nyheter business ar
Gevulot announces seed financing round led by Variant
Avance advises Gevulot in a seed financing round led by Variant. Other investors participating in the financing round include RockawayX, Volt Capital and Staking Facilities.
Alma Media to acquire Netwheels
Avance advises Alma Media Oyj in its acquisition of Netwheels Oy from Sanoma Media Finland Oy and other shareholders of the company.
Paptic raises additional growth funding
Avance advises Paptic, a Finnish developer and manufacturer of wood-fibre based packaging materials, in a funding round led by UB Forest Industry Green Growth Fund (UB FIGG) and joined by Emerald Technology Ventures, SIG InnoVentures and EIC Fund.
Lifeline invests in Photoncycle
Avance advises Lifeline Ventures in their investment in Photoncycle, a Norwegian climate tech company.
Nordisk Renting acquires a strategic science and technology property in Turku
Avance advises Nordisk Renting in the acquisition of a strategic science and technology property in Turku.
Elenia sells its fibre optic network to Elisa
Avance advises Elenia in the sale of its fibre optic network to Elisa Oyj.
HGR Property Partners divests daycare and school properties in central Helsinki
Avance advises HGR Property Partners in the sale of one school and two daycare assets in the historical Kaartin Lasaretti block in the city center of Helsinki to CapMan Social Real Estate Fund.
HiQ to acquire Ambientia’s public business unit
Avance advises HiQ, an IT and tech consulting company, in the acquisition of the public business unit of Ambientia, a Finnish IT service company.
eQ Community Properties Fund sells a healthcare property portfolio to Nrep
Avance advises eQ Community Properties Fund in the sale of a healthcare property portfolio for approx. EUR 100 million to a fund represented by the Nordic real estate investor Nrep.
Ardian Clean Energy Evergreen Fund to acquire Honkajoki wind farm
Avance advises Ardian Clean Energy Evergreen Fund in connection with the acquisition of the operational Honkajoki wind farm from Access Capital Partners and KGAL.
Cobbleyard acquires a distinctive historical redbrick property together with its sponsors
Avance advises Cobbleyard Real Estate and its sponsors in the acquisition of the distinctive historical property located at Eerikinkatu 32-36, Helsinki.
Avance advises Nasdaq Stockholm listed Eolus Vind AB (publ)., engaged in development of renewable energy, in the acquisition of YIT Energy Oy, the renewable energy division of Finland’s largest development and construction company YIT.
eQ Community Properties Fund sells a healthcare property portfolio in Finland
Avance advises eQ Community Properties Fund in the sale of a healthcare property portfolio for approx. EUR 75 million to an investment fund managed by Northern Horizon, a specialized healthcare real estate investor.
One Click LCA raises strategic growth investment from PSG and InfraVia
Avance advises One Click LCA, a world-leading decarbonization platform for the construction and manufacturing industries, in a EUR 40 million strategic growth investment from PSG and InfraVia.
Avance advises Alder Fund I AB and other shareholders in the sale of Aidon Oy, a leading Finnish supplier of smart metering and smart grid solutions for energy distribution network operators, to Gridspertise S.r.l.
Aidon to acquire Enerim’s Smart Meter Operations
Avance advises Aidon Oy, a leading Finnish supplier of smart metering and smart grid solutions for energy distribution network operators, in the acquisition of Enerim Oy’s Smart Meter Operations.
Writech Group acquires Firecon
Avance advises Writech Group in the acquisition of Firecon Group Oy, a market-leading full-service provider of automated fire extinguishing systems in Finland.
Humana divests elderly care units
Avance advises Humana (listed on Nasdaq Stockholm) in the divestment of 21 elderly care units in Finland to Mehiläinen.
Mehiläinen to acquire Docrates
Avance advises Mehiläinen in the acquisition of Docrates, a comprehensive cancer diagnostics and treatment provider serving patients from up to 50 different countries each year.
Combination of the share classes of Keskisuomalainen
Avance advises Keskisuomalainen Oyj in connection with the combination of the company's two share classes and related directed share issuance to the holders of former class K shares in the company.
eQ Commercial Properties Fund sells a retail park in Finland
Avance advises eQ Commercial Properties Fund in the sale of a retail park in Espoo to an entity established by Swiss Life, one of the leading real estate managers and facilitators in the Nordics.
A consortium formed by Apollo and Rettig announces a public tender offer for all shares in Purmo
Avance advises Rettig Oy Ab and the consortium formed by certain affiliated funds of Apollo Global Management and Rettig in relation to the voluntary recommended public cash tender offer for all the shares in Purmo Group Plc announced by the consortium’s special purpose vehicle.
HappySignals receives growth investment led by Mandatum Asset Management
Avance advises HappySignals, a leading provider of IT Experience Management solutions, in its EUR 12 million funding round led by Mandatum Asset Management and joined by existing investors Nauta and Vendep Capital.
Sirius acquires residential portfolio for EUR 45 million
Avance advises Sirius Capital Partners and its newly established affiliate in the acquisition of a portfolio of 4 residential buildings from eQ's residential fund, Oivat Kaupunkikodit Ky.
Cobbleyard and sponsors divest warehouse property in Vantaa
Avance advises Cobbleyard Real Estate and its sponsors in the divestment of a warehouse property in Vantaa. The 6,400 sqm last-mile warehouse is single let with a long-term lease.
Kurio acquired by SAMY Alliance
Avance advises the owners of Kurio, a social-first creative agency, in the sale of Kurio to SAMY Alliance, an integrated, social-first technology and data-enabled digital marketing company. Kurio is ranked the 8th most creative agency in the world in the Global Creative Index 2023 by PRovoke Media
SARC Architects join forces with SIGGE Architects
Avance advises SARC Architects when it joins forces with SIGGE Architects. SARC and SIGGE are Finland’s leading architecture firms whose works have received several architecture awards, both domestic and international.
Avance advises AVS-Yhtiöt Oy and its owners in the sale of AVS-Power Oy to Beijer Oy, a subsidiary of Beijer Alma AB.
Barings acquires prime logistics scheme in Finland
Avance advises Barings Real Estate in the acquisition of a fully let, prime logistics scheme located adjacent to the Helsinki Airport in Finland.
Harry Schaumans Stiftelse (HSS) agrees to sell HSS Media Ab to Bonnier News
Avance advises Harry Schaumans Stiftelse (HSS) in the sale of HSS Media Ab to Bonnier News. HSS Media’s newspapers Vasabladet, Österbottens Tidning och Syd-Österbotten, as well as the local radio station Radio Vaasa and marketing agency Seger Marketing, will be part of the Dagens Nyheter business ar
Gevulot announces seed financing round led by Variant
Avance advises Gevulot in a seed financing round led by Variant. Other investors participating in the financing round include RockawayX, Volt Capital and Staking Facilities.
Alma Media to acquire Netwheels
Avance advises Alma Media Oyj in its acquisition of Netwheels Oy from Sanoma Media Finland Oy and other shareholders of the company.
Paptic raises additional growth funding
Avance advises Paptic, a Finnish developer and manufacturer of wood-fibre based packaging materials, in a funding round led by UB Forest Industry Green Growth Fund (UB FIGG) and joined by Emerald Technology Ventures, SIG InnoVentures and EIC Fund.
Lifeline invests in Photoncycle
Avance advises Lifeline Ventures in their investment in Photoncycle, a Norwegian climate tech company.
Nordisk Renting acquires a strategic science and technology property in Turku
Avance advises Nordisk Renting in the acquisition of a strategic science and technology property in Turku.
Elenia sells its fibre optic network to Elisa
Avance advises Elenia in the sale of its fibre optic network to Elisa Oyj.
HGR Property Partners divests daycare and school properties in central Helsinki
Avance advises HGR Property Partners in the sale of one school and two daycare assets in the historical Kaartin Lasaretti block in the city center of Helsinki to CapMan Social Real Estate Fund.
HiQ to acquire Ambientia’s public business unit
Avance advises HiQ, an IT and tech consulting company, in the acquisition of the public business unit of Ambientia, a Finnish IT service company.
eQ Community Properties Fund sells a healthcare property portfolio to Nrep
Avance advises eQ Community Properties Fund in the sale of a healthcare property portfolio for approx. EUR 100 million to a fund represented by the Nordic real estate investor Nrep.
Ardian Clean Energy Evergreen Fund to acquire Honkajoki wind farm
Avance advises Ardian Clean Energy Evergreen Fund in connection with the acquisition of the operational Honkajoki wind farm from Access Capital Partners and KGAL.
Cobbleyard acquires a distinctive historical redbrick property together with its sponsors
Avance advises Cobbleyard Real Estate and its sponsors in the acquisition of the distinctive historical property located at Eerikinkatu 32-36, Helsinki.
Avance advises Nasdaq Stockholm listed Eolus Vind AB (publ)., engaged in development of renewable energy, in the acquisition of YIT Energy Oy, the renewable energy division of Finland’s largest development and construction company YIT.
eQ Community Properties Fund sells a healthcare property portfolio in Finland
Avance advises eQ Community Properties Fund in the sale of a healthcare property portfolio for approx. EUR 75 million to an investment fund managed by Northern Horizon, a specialized healthcare real estate investor.
One Click LCA raises strategic growth investment from PSG and InfraVia
Avance advises One Click LCA, a world-leading decarbonization platform for the construction and manufacturing industries, in a EUR 40 million strategic growth investment from PSG and InfraVia.
Avance advises Alder Fund I AB and other shareholders in the sale of Aidon Oy, a leading Finnish supplier of smart metering and smart grid solutions for energy distribution network operators, to Gridspertise S.r.l.
Aidon to acquire Enerim’s Smart Meter Operations
Avance advises Aidon Oy, a leading Finnish supplier of smart metering and smart grid solutions for energy distribution network operators, in the acquisition of Enerim Oy’s Smart Meter Operations.
Writech Group acquires Firecon
Avance advises Writech Group in the acquisition of Firecon Group Oy, a market-leading full-service provider of automated fire extinguishing systems in Finland.