Services

Environment & Natural Resources

Our Environment and Natural Resources team advises clients in the field of environmental and real estate planning laws and legal aspects relevant to mining and other exploitation of natural resources.

Our team assists clients with complicated environmental liability situations, permit application, and appeals processes, as well as critical planning and zoning procedures. The team is able to provide independent legal environmental due diligence reports, and we are used to working in close cooperation with clients’ environmental and technical teams and advisors. We are also experienced in representing our clients before regulatory authorities, municipalities, and courts in permit and environmental compliance matters, including changes to production and processes.

Environment & Natural Resources practice is a part of our Real Assets service concept, a one stop shop for projects involving real assets. We are one of the largest teams in the Nordic market with a approximately 40-strong team of lawyers. Our Real Assets Practice forms a single practice, but it is divided into sub-teams which cover real estate, environment & natural resources, projects & construction, energy, and infrastructure. Our lawyers are experts in their own fields, but they constantly operate as part of a wider group and in a comprehensive project/transaction context to avoid a division into silos.

 

Real Assets Service Concept Areas


Recent References


Rankings

  • “The team works in close cooperation with other specialists in other teams when needed to gain best results for clients. The knowledge of each individual in various fields of law is also astonishing.”
  • “The lawyers are extremely supportive and responsive. They answer our questions in a timely manner and always follow up and go above and beyond.”
  • Hannes Snellman is recommended in Legal500’s Global Green Guide 2024 edition as one of the key firms in the EMEA region advising on issues around climate change and sustainability.

Project development

  • "Professional."
  • "Availability, adaptability and proactiveness in proposing solutions to negotiation deadlocks."
  • "Hannes Snellman has great expertise in environmental law and administrative processes and they have an ability to think outside the box and find unusual solutions for us where needed."
  • "Excellent understanding of our line of business. Practical and solution-orientated approach which is still based on very high level legal expertise."
  • "Large team with wide expertise in various legal aspects."

Project finance

  • "Professional."
  • Hannes Snellman is recommended in Legal500’s Global Green Guide 2023 edition as one of the key firms in the EMEA region advising on issues around climate change and sustainability.
  • "Hannes Snellman has a broad range of competencies on their team and is able to cover a wide breadth of topics."
  • "The quality of their work is consistently high."
  • "Hannes Snellman demonstrates strong expertise and is able to provide solutions on complex issues."

ranked #2 for legal competence in the Environment & Natural Resources category by Prospera Law Firm Review 2023 in Finland.

Project development : Mining

  • "Broad and deep skills. Devoted, loyal. Good network. Highly qualified partners and associates."

Project development : Energy

  • "Professional and positive attitude."

  • "They have good market insight, clear arguments and they hold the contract structure together well."

  • "The firm has an outstanding, full-service energy and infrastructure practice with a professional, knowledgeable and very solution-focused team."

  • "Proactive, practical and take a business view in helping to conclude negotiations looking at what can be conceded and what protections should be retained."

  • "The firm has provided us with excellent advice on a very wide range of topics, from land lease agreements and permitting processes to financing and construction. The responses we get to our inquiries are accurate, understandable and based on solid experience."

Project development: Infrastructure 

  • "Quick response time, high-quality work, wide areas of expertise, listens to the client's needs."

  • "Excellent knowledge of the construction law field, hands-on approach to managing contract content and negotiations with both excellent tracking of open issues and ability to make proposals to reach a balanced solution."

  • Hannes Snellman is recommended in Legal500’s inaugural Global Green Guide as one of the key firms in the EMEA region advising on issues around climate change and sustainability.
  • '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 praises the firm for being "very resourceful."'

Blogs & News


Main Contacts

Klaus Metsä-Simola

Partner | Helsinki
klaus.metsa-simola
@hannessnellman.com

Tapio Teräkivi

Partner | Helsinki
tapio.terakivi
@hannessnellman.com

Team

Alisa Ainonen

Alisa Ainonen

Associate | Helsinki
alisa.ainonen@hannessnellman.com
Noora Britschgi

Noora Britschgi

Senior Associate | Helsinki
noora.britschgi@hannessnellman.com
Katja Heikkinen

Katja Heikkinen

Specialist Partner | Helsinki
katja.heikkinen@hannessnellman.com
Minna Juhola

Minna Juhola

Counsel | Helsinki
minna.juhola@hannessnellman.com
Heikki Majamaa

Heikki Majamaa

Specialist Partner | Helsinki
heikki.majamaa@hannessnellman.com
Klaus Metsä-Simola

Klaus Metsä-Simola

Partner | Helsinki
klaus.metsa-simola@hannessnellman.com
Kerttu Pahta

Kerttu Pahta

Associate | Helsinki
kerttu.pahta@hannessnellman.com
Julia Ranta

Julia Ranta

Associate | Helsinki
julia.ranta@hannessnellman.com
Rabbe Sittnikow

Rabbe Sittnikow

Partner | Helsinki
rabbe.sittnikow@hannessnellman.com
Tapio Teräkivi

Tapio Teräkivi

Partner | Helsinki
tapio.terakivi@hannessnellman.com
Salla Mäki

Salla Mäki

Senior Legal Assistant | Helsinki
salla.maki@hannessnellman.com