Maria Wasastjerna
Maria Wasastjerna
Maria Wasastjerna has extensive experience in competition law and regulatory matters. She advises Finnish and international companies on all aspects of competition law, specialising in regulatory legal and compliance matters, as well as in competition litigation and M&A transactions. Prior to joining Hannes Snellman, Maria gained several years of experience as an in-house lawyer in global corporations, most recently as a lead counsel for global competition law and policy at Nokia Corporation. Maria also has working experience from the EU and US competition regulators in Brussels and Washington, DC.
Maria has a PhD in competition law from the University of Helsinki. She recently published a book on competition, data, and privacy in the digital economy with Kluwer Law International. Maria regularly publishes articles, presents at conferences, and lectures on competition, compliance, and technology-related topics. She is a qualified attorney in Finland and the State of New York (US) and has been ranked in Legal 500 for her work in EU and competition law.
Maria can identify the essential and solve problems with a very strong business mindset. In addition, she is extremely nice to work with.
EU & Competition | Legal 500, 2020
References
Parties
PPG Industries, Inc. (Bidder), Tikkurila Oyj (Target)
Transaction
Recommended public cash tender offer for all of the shares in Tikkurila by PPG Industries, Inc.
Deal Value
EUR 1.1 billion
Role
Counsel to Tikkurila Oyj

Mikko Heinonen

Klaus Ilmonen

Anniina Järvinen

Kaisa Himmanen

Viola Valtanen

Agda Vähä-Piikkiö

Maria Wasastjerna

Jenni Heurlin

Laura Sainio

Meri Vanhanen

Henrik Hautamäki

Johanna Haltia-Tapio

Elisabeth Vestin

Satu Kokko
Parties
Valmet Corporation, Alfa Laval AB, Neles Corporation
Transaction
Counsel to Valmet Corporation in the EUR 1.73 bn public tender offer dated 13 July 2020 by Alfa Laval AB for all shares in Neles Corporation and the subsequent increase by Valmet of its shareholding in Neles to 29.5 %. Alfa Laval decided not to complete its offer on 3 November 2020.
Deal Value
EUR 1.73 billion
Role
Counsel to Valmet Corporation

Johan Aalto

Antti Kuha

Anna Sahrakorpi

Lauri Marjamäki

Maria Wasastjerna

Antti Alanko

Helena Lamminen

Jenni Heurlin
Parties:
Cargotec Corporation, Konecranes Plc
Transaction:
Merger of Cargotec Corporation and Konecranes Plc
Deal value:
Approx. EUR 2.7 billion
Role:
Counsel to Konecranes Plc

Mikko Heinonen

Henrik Hautamäki

Sonja Siggberg

Outi Raitasuo

David Olander

Peter Forsberg

Mikko Huimala

Markus Bremer

Jenni Heurlin

Johanna Haltia-Tapio

Ingrid Remmelgas

Sini Paajanen

Matias Moberg

Riikka Kuha

Kaisa Himmanen

Agda Vähä-Piikkiö

Linnea Lehtonen

Maria Wasastjerna

Pauliina Sutinen

Jenni Parviainen

Heikki Vesikansa

Khaled Talayhan

Mattias Friberg

Marc Tevell de Falck

Carolina Lefort Ahokanto
Parties
Ahlstrom-Munksjö Oyj (target), a consortium consisting of Ahlström Capital, Bain Capital Private Equity, Viknum and Belgrano Inversiones (buyer)
Transaction
Recommended public cash tender offer for all shares in Ahlstrom-Munksjö Oyj by Spa Holdings 3 Oy
Deal value
Approximately EUR 2.1 billion
Role
Counsel to the consortium

Johan Aalto

Sonja Siggberg

Mattias Friberg

Antti Kuha

Lauri Marjamäki

Anna Sahrakorpi

Annemari Rosi

Khaled Talayhan

Taina Metso

Annakaisa Sutinen

Heikki Vesikansa

Stefan Stellato

Harri Vehviläinen

Matleena Pälve

Maria Wasastjerna

Helena Lamminen

Laura Sainio

Antti Alanko

Marc Tevell de Falck

Sanna Heino
Counsel to CBRE in competition and compliance related matters.

Maria Wasastjerna

Laura Sainio
Parties
Valmet Oyj (Buyer), Solidium Oyj (Seller)
Transaction
Counsel to Valmet Oyj in the acquisition of future Neles Corporation from Solidium Oy, representing 14.88% of all Neles’ shares and votes.
Deal Value
EUR 179 million
Role
Counsel to Valmet Oyj

Johan Aalto

Lauri Marjamäki

Anna Sahrakorpi

Maria Wasastjerna
Comprehensive advice on the state aid law for the Prime Minister’s Office concerning the recapitalisation (rights offering) of the state-controlled airline Finnair Plc, including advise on the notification procedure before the European Commission. The rights offering of 500 MEUR is one of the largest rights offerings in Finland in recent years. The Commission’s decision in the case lead to amendments to the COVID-19 related State Aid Temporary Framework.

Mikko Huimala

Klaus Ilmonen

Maria Wasastjerna

Meri Vanhanen

Jenni Heurlin

Antti Kuha

Tommi Kovero

Satu Kokko
Series of compliance trainings for Nordea in the area of competition law and compliance.

Maria Wasastjerna

Helena Lamminen
Parties
Outotec Oyj, Metso Corporation
Transaction
The combination of Outotec and Metso Minerals through a demerger
Deal Value
EUR 3.9 billion (illustrative combined sales)
Role
Counsel to Outotec Oyj

Mikko Heinonen

Klaus Ilmonen

Outi Raitasuo

Markus Bremer

Peter Forsberg

Anna-Maria Tamminen

Heikki Vesikansa

Maria Wasastjerna

Johanna Haltia-Tapio

Laura Kotilainen

Elina Toivakainen

Jenni Parviainen

Annemari Rosi

Samuli Pirinen

Emmi Kantola

Taina Metso

Anna Sahrakorpi

Anton Karlais

Henrik Hautamäki

Ina Rautiainen

Stefan Stellato

Johan Holmquist

Maria Landtman

David Olander

Itai Coleman
Rankings
- 'Maria Wasastjerna has a unique combination of academic knowledge with extensive global practical experience from a multinational. Maria can identify the essential and solve problems with a very strong business mindset. In addition, she is extremely nice to work with.', EU and Competition, Legal 500, 2020
- Elected as one of the ’30 in their 30s’ Notable Women in Competition in Europe, 2017
- Victoriastiftelsen Scholarship, 2017
- Fulbright-Schuman Scholarship, 2011
Memberships and Positions of Trust
- Member of the Finnish Bar Association’s Professional Committee
- UN Women Finland, Senior Advisor
- European Competition Lawyers Forum (ECLF)
- In House Competition Lawyers’ Association (ICLA)
- American Chamber of Commerce in Finland Legal Committee, Chair 2015−2016, Vice Chair 2014
- Member of the Board, Fulbright Organization in Finland, 2015
- Member of the New York Bar, 2013−
- Member of the Finnish Bar Association, 2013, 2019−
- Member of W@Competition
- Member of the Board of FIDE Finland
- Member of International Women’s Forum
Publications
- Sustainability and competition: Unlocking the potential, Concurrences 4/2020 (co-author)
- Vastuullisuus osana tehokkuuspuolustusta EU:n kilpailuoikeudessa, Defensor Legis 4/2020 (co-author)
- Competition, data and privacy in the digital economy, Wolters Kluwer International 2020
- Lectio Praecursoria, Juridiska Föreningen i Finland JFT 6/2019
- Blurred Lines: The German Facebook case, Finnish Competition Law Yearbook 2019
- The Controversial Competition-Data Protection Interface, European Business Law Review 30/2019
- The role of big data and privacy in merger review, European Competition Journal 14/2018
- Konkurrensrätt, data och integritetsskydd, Juridiska Föreningen i Finland JFT 5/2018
- Parental liability in EU competition law, International In-House Counsel Journal 8/2015
- Interlocking directorates in EU competition law, Europarättslig Tidskrift 4/2012
- Vähemmistöomistusten kilpailuoikeudellisesta merkityksestä, Defensor Legis 3/2012 (co-authored)
- Antitrust review of intellectual property in the US and the EU, ICC Global Antitrust Review 2011
- Predatory pricing in antitrust enforcement, ABA Antitrust Law Section Pricing Newsletter Fall 2011
- Recent developments in resale price maintenance treatment, The Price Point, Spring 2011 (co-author)
- Private enforcement of Finnish competition law, Juristklubben Codex Festschrift 2010
- Yhdenmukaistettu menettelytapa ja tietojenvaihto, Defensor Legis 4/2009 (co-author)
- Gaming in Norway - Did the EFTA court get it right? Competition Law Insight 7/2007 (co-author)
Education and Professional Background
- Partner, Hannes Snellman, 2019
- Lead Counsel Competition Law / Senior Legal Counsel, Nokia Corporation, 2014−2019
- Head of Legal, Kiosked Ltd, 2013–2014
- Secondee Lawyer, Nokia Corporation, 2013
- Secondee Lawyer, GE Healthcare, 2012
- Senior Associate / Associate, Roschier Attorneys, 2008–2013
- International Trainee, U.S. Federal Trade Commission, Washington D.C., 2011
- Stagiaire, European Commission, Brussels, 2008
- Stagiaire, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, Brussels, 2007
- Doctor of Laws, University of Helsinki, 2019
- Visiting Academic, University of Oxford, 2018
- LL.M., Fulbright scholar, Georgetown Law School, 2011
- LL.M., College of Europe, Belgium, 2008
- Master of Laws, University of Helsinki, 2006
Recent Speaking Engagements
- The German Facebook case and beyond, Annual Conference on EU Data Protection Law, June 2020
- The interlink between privacy and competition, Ascola Nordic Webinar, June 2020
- Leadership lessons, Finland Central Chamber of Commerce Female Mentoring Event, Helsinki, Feb 2020
- Digital competition, Competition Law Nordic Conference, Stockholm, Jan 2020
- Equality and diversity in the legal profession, Asianajajapäivä, Helsinki, Jan 2020
- Sustainability and competition, FIDE Finland Seminar, Helsinki, Jan 2020
- Competition law, technology and IPRs, University of Helsinki Faculty of Law, Jan 2020
- Basics of competition law, University of Helsinki Faculty of Law, Sept 2019
- Digitalization and the law, Aalto University School of Business, August 2019
- EU Merger Control Conference 2019, Brussels, May 2019
- Finnish Competition Law Association, Helsinki, Apr 2019
- Juristi 2.0: Miten pärjätä juristikoulutuksesta huolimatta? University of Helsinki, Apr 2019
- Algorithms and the data economy, Fondia Academy, Helsinki, Mar 2019
- Competition Law Nordic Conference, Stockholm, Jan 2019
- Antitrust and competition compliance in CEE Conference, Prague, Dec 2018
- Big data and competition law KNect 356 Conference, Brussels, Oct 2018
- W@Competition Nordic Conference, Vilnius, Oct 2018
- Future of Europe Young Researchers Symposium, University of Helsinki, May 2018
- Antitrust Law and Economics CLaSF Workshop, University of Graz, Apr 2018
- Competition Law Nordic Conference, Stockholm, Feb 2018