Languages

Finnish, English

A woman with shoulder-length light brown hair wearing a cream-colored blouse and black pants stands against a peach background, looking at the camera with a slight smile and one hand in her pocket.

Hilma Mäkitalo-Saarinen

Associate IP & Technology

A woman with shoulder-length light brown hair wearing a cream-colored blouse and black pants stands against a peach background, looking at the camera with a slight smile and one hand in her pocket.

Languages

Finnish, English

Hilma advises domestic and international clients on all aspects of intellectual property law, with a particular focus on brand protection, trademark portfolio management, licensing arrangements, and commercial agreements. She has experience in IP-related disputes and litigations involving both patents and trademarks. Additionally, she has contributed to multiple M&A projects, with a particular emphasis on intellectual property law and technology-related aspects. Hilma also provides advice on IP questions related to entertainment and media law, digitalisation, and AI.

In addition, Hilma advises clients on technology-related arrangements related to outsourcing, procurement, and the delivery of ICT solutions and services. She has also gained experience in matters relating to data protection and privacy.

Selected References

Parties:

Vollert Anlagenbau GmbH, represented by its insolvency administrator, Elematic group companies, Precast Business of Vollert

Transaction:

Hannes Snellman advised Elematic in the acquisition of Vollert’s Precast Business. Elematic is a leading global supplier of precast concrete technology and will continue the acquired precast concrete business in Germany under the brand Vollert Precast Solutions, as part of Elematic Group. In addition, the transaction includes the acquisition of shares in Vollert India Pvt Ltd, further strengthening Elematic’s capabilities in the Indian market.

Deal Value:

Not public

Role:

Counsel to Elematic

Contacts

Parties:

AAC Technologies Pte. Ltd., Dispelix Oy

Transaction:

Hannes Snellman is advising AAC Technologies Pte. Ltd., a world-leading smart device solution provider, in its acquisition of the shares and other equity securities in Dispelix Oy, a technology leader in diffractive waveguide displays for augmented reality (AR). The transaction is expected to close within the first half of 2026 and upon completion Dispelix will become a subsidiary of AAC.

Value:

Not public

Role:

Counsel to AAC Technologies Pte. Ltd.

Contacts

Parties

Haveli Investments, M-Files Corporation

Transaction

Haveli Investments' majority recapitalisation of M-Files Corporation, a leading platform for knowledge work automation.

Deal Value

Value not public

Role

Counsel to Haveli Investments

Contacts

Hannes Snellman successfully defended Continental Automotive GmbH (“Continental”) in an action brought by Nokia Technologies Oy (“Nokia”) concerning the right to claim priority for a patent. The Market Court held that the matter did not concern the registration or validity of a patent. The Market Court also held that Nokia lacked declaratory interest. Consequently, the Market Court found that it lacked jurisdiction and dismissed the action without considering the merits as requested by Continental.

The Market Court ordered Nokia to compensate EUR 500,000 with legal interest to Continental for the legal costs incurred.

The decision is not final.

Contacts

Parties

Accel-KKR, Aico Group, Juuri Partners

Transaction

Accel-KKR’s majority equity investment in Aico Group

Deal Value

Value not public

Role

Counsel to Accel-KKR, a global technology-focused investment firm

Contacts
  • A man wearing glasses and a navy blue suit with a white shirt and black tie stands with his arms crossed against a plain beige background.

    Tero Pikkarainen

    Senior Associate +358 50 469 4606 tero.pikkarainen@hannessnellman.com
  • A woman with long light brown hair and glasses, wearing a silky gray blouse and gold jewelry, stands against a plain light purple background, smiling softly with her hands folded.

    Wilma Montonen

    Associate +358 44 030 5990 wilma.montonen@hannessnellman.com
  • A man in a dark suit and tie sits on a stool against a plain beige background, smiling slightly with his hands clasped on his lap.

    Heikki Vesikansa

    Partner +358 40 844 2117 heikki.vesikansa@hannessnellman.com

  • Stefan Stellato

    Partner +358 50 356 5566 stefan.stellato@hannessnellman.com
  • Woman with long brown hair and glasses wearing a navy jacket over a magenta blouse and dark pants, standing against a light purple background with her hands in her pockets.

    Marika Sorsa

    Counsel +358 40 707 1441 marika.sorsa@hannessnellman.com
  • A woman with long blonde hair in a black dress stands against a plain lavender background, smiling gently with her hands clasped in front of her.

    Sofia Ropo

    Senior Associate +358 40 545 2866 sofia.ropo@hannessnellman.com
  • A woman with straight blonde hair stands smiling, arms crossed, wearing a black long-sleeve blouse and dark pants against a plain beige background.

    Anna Nyberg

    Senior Associate +358 41 501 9395 anna.nyberg@hannessnellman.com

  • Oona Eerola

    Associate +358 40 729 6008 oona.eerola@hannessnellman.com
  • A woman with long, straight brown hair stands with arms crossed, wearing a black dress. She is facing slightly to the side and smiling softly, with a neutral beige background.

    Vivi Jaatinen

    Legal Assistant +358 40 821 5939 vivi.jaatinen@hannessnellman.com
  • A woman with wavy brown hair wearing a light peach, long-sleeved sweater and black pants stands smiling in front of a solid teal background.

    Rebecca Osola

    Senior Legal Assistant +358 50 300 6172 rebecca.osola@hannessnellman.com
  • A woman with long brown hair, wearing a fitted, short-sleeved, olive-green dress, stands with arms crossed and a slight smile against a solid, warm, peach-colored background.

    Anni Ollus

    Senior Legal Assistant +358 50 536 5594 anni.ollus@hannessnellman.com
  • A woman with shoulder-length light brown hair wearing a cream-colored blouse and black pants stands against a peach background, looking at the camera with a slight smile and one hand in her pocket.

    Hilma Mäkitalo-Saarinen

    Associate +358 40 720 5279 hilma.makitalo-saarinen@hannessnellman.com

Counsel to multiple companies in the consumer electronics and telecommunications sectors on regulatory and product compliance matters.

Contacts

Counsel to a Finnish company in television programme cooperation related agreements.

Contacts

Counsel to a major professional sports league in its trademark matters in Finland.

Contacts

Parties: 

Methode Electronics, Inc., Nordic Lights Group Corporation

Transaction:

Methode Electronics, Inc.'s recommended public cash tender offer for all shares in Nordic Lights Group Corporation

Deal Value:

EUR 132 million

Role:

Counsel to Methode Electronics, Inc.

Contacts

Counsel to Red Cross First Aid in relation to several trademark cases as well as agreement update project.

Contacts

Parties:

Sega Europe Limited and SEGA Corporation (Buyers) Rovio Entertainment Corporation (Target)

Transaction:

Counsel to Sega Europe Limited and SEGA Corporation in the recommended public cash tender offer for all shares and options in Rovio Entertainment Corporation.

Deal value: 

Approximately EUR 706 million

Role:

Counsel to Sega Europe Limited and SEGA Corporation

Contacts

Parties

Nordic Metal Holdings (Buyer), Alumeco Group (Target)

Transaction

Hannes Snellman advised Nordic Metal Holdings in its acquisition of Alumeco Group, a metal wholesaler primarily within aluminum. 

Deal Value

Value not public

Role

Counsel to Nordic Metal Holdings

Contacts

Memberships and Positions of Trust

  • Member of the Finnish Association for Industrial Property Rights 
  • Member of the Finnish Fashion Law Association 
  • Member of the IT Law Association

Professional Background

  • Associate, Hannes Snellman, 2022–

Education

  • Master of Laws, University of Helsinki, 2022