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
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