Krogerus Half-Year Highlights H1/2026
Welcome to the half-yearly review of Krogerus' highlights! In this newsletter, we will share recent case highlights, firm news and insights.
Foreword
The year 2026 started on a rather positive note, with many indicators pointing to increased economic activity and growing confidence in the markets. As we all know, however, unexpected geopolitical developments once more put a lid on the risk appetite. At the time of writing, the skies are a bit clearer again, and activity levels are encouraging.
We believe the current technological and industrial transformation in the making creates significant opportunities for countries like Finland and feel optimistic about what the coming years will bring. When the world is changing, one can either focus on the risks that change brings or look for the opportunities that come with it. Over the past century, Finland has successfully seized opportunities and adapted to changing circumstances. Even if we may not be famous for this particular trait, I believe we are rather good at navigating change with calmness, determination, and resilience. These qualities combined with the right mindset and a strong work ethos provide Finnish corporates and entrepreneurs a solid foundation for building sustainable growth and long-term success. We are of course grateful for the opportunity to help our clients make this change.
I would like to thank our clients and stakeholders for the first half of the year, and look forward to continue working together. We all at Krogerus wish you a great summer and relaxing vacation!
Mårten Knuts
Managing Partner
Recent case highlights
During the past six months, we have advised on a broad range of transactions including:
- Real Asset Acquisition Corp. on its de-SPAC combination with IQM.
- Varma on EUR 900 million disposal of 60 residential properties to Kojamo.
- Terveystalo on its acquisition of Silmäasema.
- Savox Communications on its initial public offering and listing on the regulated market of Nasdaq Helsinki.
- Malibu Boats on its acquisition of Saxdor Yachts.
- ICEYE Oy on its inaugural €300 million 3-year committed revolving credit facility.
- Terrafame in a long-term sale-and-lease-back transaction with Aurora Infrastructure.
- DNB Carnegie on Reaktor's initial public offering and listing on the regulated market of Nasdaq Helsinki.
- Qutwo on its EUR 25 million angel round valued at EUR 325 million.
- G Square on its acquisition of a majority stake in Serres.
- Polarnode on the delivery of a 310 MW data center campus to Nebius.
We also successfully represented a client in a tax dispute confirming a tax neutral management roll-over in a private equity transaction.
Partner appointments in dispute resolution, competition and industrial construction
During the spring 2026, we appointed three new partners: Mikko Iso-Aho to further reinforce our Dispute Resolution practice, Martina Castrén to strengthen our strategic competition law expertise, and Katja Perätalo, who brings deep expertise on large-scale industrial construction projects across all industries.
Strategic competition law is becoming even more important in today’s world, where deglobalisation is increasing the role of protective legal regimes in transactions. Martina is a seasoned expert on all aspects of Finnish and European Union competition law with extensive international experience and a versatile background. She is widely recognized for her expertise in navigating merger control and antitrust proceedings before the European Commission and Nordic competition authorities. Read more about Martinas appointment on our website.
Katja will focus on expanding our current service offering into a new Industrial Construction & Projects practice, catered to providing strategic legal advice during the full lifecycle of complex industrial construction, energy, and infrastructure projects, both in terms of contentious and non-contentious aspects. She is highly regarded for her negotiation skills and for her ability to balance commercial and legal considerations in high-stakes projects. Katja will join as Partner and Head of Industrial Construction & Projects later this year. Read more about Katjas appointment on our website.
Mikko's appointment reflects the growing client demand for expert counsel in disputes of exceptional scale and complexity. He has extensive expertise in high-stakes commercial disputes, internal investigations, and regulatory matters. Get to know Mikko through the interview below!
Get to know Mikko Iso-Aho
What has your career path looked like?
Mikko: "Back in law school, I was interested in a wide range of legal fields, and it felt easier to say what didn’t interest me (there weren’t many) than what did. Eventually, my general interest in economics led me to business law. I started at Krogerus right after graduating from law school. Shortly after starting, I found myself fully immersed in the assignments (each new case was always the most interesting one), and I quickly realised I was in the right place. One of the best things about a large firm is definitely that you’re never alone at any stage of your career – there are always colleagues around to offer peer support.
My journey from associate to partner has included various internal roles, a year of training on the bench, and a secondment abroad. Mentors, collaboration between different practices, and diverse training opportunities both within and outside the firm have enabled me to build a career that suits me. In addition, my career has been shaped by active involvement in various professional organizations, through which I have had the opportunity to meet colleagues from all over Europe."
What are the three most important lessons you’ve learned during your career?
- Listen to those more experienced than you, because you can learn a lot from them. Law is a craft learned through practice and mentorship, and you shouldn’t try to figure everything out on your own.
- Listen to those less experienced than you, because you can learn a lot from them. Good ideas can come from anyone, regardless of seniority.
- Don’t underestimate the power of narrative. Law isn’t mathematics. The same rules and facts can lead to different outcomes. Often, what matters most is who tells the story best – that is, who can convince the decision-maker why justice demands a certain outcome.
How do you think dispute resolution will change in the next five years?
Mikko: "Dispute resolution is continuously evolving, and I expect one of the key trends in the coming years to be the further expansion of the field itself. Traditional litigation and arbitration are increasingly being complemented by a wide range of administrative proceedings. This is largely driven by the enormous growth and complexity of regulation, which means that advising clients in regulatory investigations, administrative processes, and dialogue with authorities will become an ever more important part of dispute resolution work.
As for the work itself, AI is already changing legal work. Many processes are likely to shift onto technology platforms, making legal work increasingly integrated with AI-driven systems and workflows. This development will also reshape client expectations and the management of growing volumes of information and data. As routine and process-oriented tasks become more automated and efficient, a growing share of legal work will focus on analysis, strategy, and other core tasks, allowing us to focus on areas where our expertise provides unique strategic value to our clients."
Recent insights
Over the past six months, our experts have shared their perspectives on legal and business developments through articles on our website and interviews featured in Finnish business media. Explore some of the publications below.
- Towards a Significant Reform of Foreign Direct Investment Screening in Finland: A draft Government proposal for new foreign direct investment (FDI) legislation in Finland was published on 3 June 2026, paving the way for broadened screening of foreign investments. The proposal is driven by a materially changed geopolitical landscape and technological developments, as well as the ongoing revision of the EU Regulation on the Screening of Foreign Direct Investments. In this article, we take a closer look at the proposed changes. Read the article on our website.
- Copyright law review: We publish a quarterly copyright law review that summarises recent copyright case law and its practical implications. Read the review on our website (in Finnish).
- Land Use Act reform – New rules for wind and solar power development: On 16 April 2026, the Finnish Government submitted to Parliament a comprehensive legislative proposal for a new Land Use Act, together with amendments to the Building Act and 36 other statutes. While retaining the three-tier planning system, the proposal amends the content requirements and legal effects of plans at all levels and introduces more detailed rules for renewable energy. This article discusses the key changes proposed and their significance for wind and solar power development. Read the article on our website.
- Who is liable when an AI agent makes a mistake? AI agents are currently being tested and rolled out across businesses. At the same time, questions are being raised about who is responsible if an AI agent causes damage. Read the article on Tivi (in Finnish).
- Kauppalehti interviewed our Managing Partner Mårten Knuts about the strategic choices that have guided our growth in recent years. The article explores the factors behind our growth and examines how long-term commitment and a client-focused approach have enabled strong development even in an uncertain operating environment. Read the article on Kauppalehti (in Finnish).
Krogerus wins Chambers and Partners’ Finland Law Firm of the Year award
Chambers and Partners, the world’s leading legal rankings and insights company, awarded us the Finland Law Firm of the Year title in May 2026. The awards recognise outstanding legal achievements, strategic growth and innovation, and excellence in client service, based on extensive independent research and client interviews.
The recognition reflects the qualities that have defined Krogerus since day one: a pragmatic and straightforward approach to law, a strong commitment to client service and a development-oriented culture that supports our people's growth into leaders in their field.
“Law has always been a peoples' business. This award is above all a reflection of the trust our clients place in us and the commitment of our people. I want to thank our clients for continuing to trust us with their demanding assignments, and everyone at Krogerus for the ambition, collaboration and sense of community that define our culture”, says Managing Partner Mårten Knuts.
Read more about the award from the article on our website.
Wishing you a sunny and relaxing summer!
Krogerus
