Katja Perätalo Appointed as Specialist Partner

Katja Perätalo, an experienced construction law and claims management expert from Hannes Snellman’s Projects & Construction Practice, has been appointed as Specialist Partner as of 1 October 2021.

Katja Perätalo advises clients on large-scale industrial construction and investment projects on a full lifecycle basis, capturing all phases from contract negotiations to implementation and navigating through strategic issues with contentious interfaces during and after execution.

Katja has particular expertise in EPC & EPCM projects, procurement contracts, and supply and maintenance agreements related to power plants, wind power projects, production facilities, equipment deliveries, and other works and deliveries especially within the heavy industries, construction, and energy sectors. Her experience ranges from complex standalone investment projects to advising on construction issues in a transactional context, dispute resolution processes, and contracts & claims management on a global corporate level in this sector. Katja’s academic background includes a Master of Science (Technology) degree from Aalto University and a Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Helsinki, with her doctoral dissertation covering the interface between tort and contract law in the context of liabilities of parties in large-scale construction projects.

“Construction and investment projects in this area are typically long term, complex, capex heavy, and often unique for the employers engaging in them, and the sector is currently undergoing a massive transformation driven by carbon neutrality and green energy megatrends. I look forward to further developing our already established practice in this area together with the team and supporting our clients in navigating through the full lifecycle of these projects”, says Katja Perätalo.

“We believe the green energy transformation and associated megatrends will increase the demand for high-end legal services in this field and further emphasise the value of continuity for our clients from the outset of the negotiation process throughout the execution phase of these projects and beyond, both in contentious and non-contentious aspects”, says Maria Landtman, who heads Hannes Snellman’s Projects & Construction practice.

“Katja’s extensive knowledge of complex projects combined with her past experience in both private practice and as being in charge of contracts & claims management at the global procurement organisation of one of the largest industrial companies in Finland brings true additional value to our clients and helps us to further develop our strong practice”, says Tapio Teräkivi, who heads Hannes Snellman’s Real Assets Service Concept.

Hannes Snellman’s Projects & Construction team advises project sponsors, lenders, acquirers, corporates, and contractors on all aspects of projects, for instance, in the energy and infrastructure sectors, including industrial and energy outsourcing. The team is experienced in drafting and negotiating the full spectrum of bankable construction and other project documents, advising on project execution and co-operation models as well as conducting due diligence reviews and coordinating projects. The Projects & Construction Practice is part of our cross-border Real Assets Service Concept combining our offerings to the environment & natural resources, infrastructure & energy, projects & construction, and real estate sectors into coordinated, multi-disciplinary advice to our clients.

Hannes Snellman is a top-tier Nordic law firm with 350 outstanding lawyers and other professionals based in Finland and Sweden. We advise leading international and local corporations across all business sectors. Our firm has the expertise and capacity to handle any demanding local or cross-border matters in which assets are being developed, protected, financed, acquired, or under dispute.